Dems Gain Tiny Voter Registration Edge in Frederick Co.

Frederick County’s growth and political transformation into a swing county continues apace.

New figures released Friday by the Frederick County Board of Elections showed that 6,521 people have been added to the county’s voter rolls since the November 2018 election ― an increase of 4%.

And for the first time in recent memory, Democrats have the slightest edge in voter enrollment. That’s the first time the Democrats have had an advantage in voter registration in Frederick since the early 1990’s: the county had more enrolled Democrats than Republicans for the 1992 general election, but by the time the 1994 primaries rolled around the GOP had the advantage.

“The figures show some interesting trends”, said Election Director Stuart Harvey. “The two principal political parties are virtually tied in the county, and there are a large percentage of voters who are registered as unaffiliated ― Maryland’s term for independent voters. This is the fastest growing group of voters in the county.”

Overall, there are 179,428 registered voters in Frederick: 67,751 Democrats (37.8% of the electorate), 67,735 Republicans (37.8%), and 43,923 unaffiliated (24.4%). There are 19 registered members of the Bread and Roses Party, the new, left-leaning party recently recognized by the State Board of Elections.

Harvey’s office also released voter registration breakdowns by congressional, legislative and County Council district:

Congressional District 6 – Total 87,784
Democrats – 39,705
Republicans – 25,798
Bread and Roses – 10
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 22,271

Congressional District 8 – Total 91,644
Democrats – 28,046
Republicans – 41,937
Bread and Roses – 9
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 21,652

Legislative District 3A – Total 56,518
Democrats – 27,189
Republicans – 15,366
Bread and Roses – 8
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 13,955

Legislative District 3B – Total 33,129
Democrats – 13,246
Republicans – 11,687
Bread and Roses – 3
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 8,193

Legislative District 4 – Total 89,781
Democrats – 27,316
Republicans – 40,682
Bread and Roses – 8
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 21,775

Council District 1 – Total 39,095
Democrats – 14,009
Republicans – 15,354
Bread and Roses – 3
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 9,729

Council District 2 – Total 40,580
Democrats – 12,891
Republicans – 17,344
Bread and Roses – 5
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 10,340

Council District 3 – Total 31,585
Democrats – 15,667
Republicans – 8,185
Bread and Roses – 5
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 7,728

Council District 4 – Total 35,857
Democrats – 16,223
Republicans – 10,767
Bread and Roses – 5
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 8,862

Council District 5 – Total 32,311
Democrats – 8,961
Republicans – 16,085
Bread and Roses – 1
Unaffiliated/Other parties – 7,264

Overall, between Jan. 1, 2019 and Jan. 3, 2020, Democrats added 2,289 voters (34.3%), Republicans added 1,764  (26.5%), Bread and Roses added 8 (0%) and 2,606 people (39.1%) registered as unaffiliated/others.

3,252 new voters were added to the rolls between the ages of 17 and 25; 1,094 voters between the ages of 26 and 35 registered; 913 voters between 36 and 45 registered; 567 voters between 46 and 55 registered; 400 between 56 and 65 registered; and 441 65 and older registered.

Registration is open until April 7 for citizens who want to vote in Maryland’s April 28 primaries. Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 in time for the general election on Nov. 3 are eligible to register and vote in the primary.

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