As National Voter Registration Shifts Are Analyzed, Signs of Democratic Erosion in Woodbridge
Local political party enrollment data mirror national trends, with unaffiliated voters outnumbering both parties across the Amity towns
The League of Women Voters - Amity recently highlighted the Secretary of the State’s official October 2024 enrollment statistics for our three Amity towns. These records provide the clearest comparison point across Bethany, Orange, and Woodbridge.
While each town has its own political culture, the broader regional pattern is clear: Across all three Amity towns, unaffiliated voters are the largest group — a reminder that many residents prefer not to align formally with either major party. In Orange, unaffiliated voters make up nearly half the electorate. In Woodbridge and Bethany, they also outnumber both Democrats and Republicans.
Election experts often caution that voter registration is a lagging indicator of political change. People may stop voting with a party years before they officially change their registration. As the New York Times reported last week, Democrats nationally are experiencing a steep drop in registered voters, with many shifting to Republican or unaffiliated status. Kentucky and West Virginia, for example, flipped to a Republican registration advantage only recently — long after both states were already reliably red in presidential elections.
Focusing in on Woodbridge data
The Woodbridge Registrars of Voters maintain local records that allow us to track changes over time, revealing more detail. Here are the recent totals:
Compared to the national trends analyzed by the Times, Woodbridge’s data tells a similar but smaller-scale story. Since November 2022, the town’s Democratic rolls have declined more than either Republican or unaffiliated enrollment. While Republicans dipped slightly, unaffiliated voters have regained their status as the largest category of voters in Woodbridge.
