S.Md. Has Big Gains In New Voters

Region's Growth Cited as Key Factor

Fast-growing Southern Maryland counties have recorded double-digit gains in registered voters since the 2004 presidential election, outstripping the rate of growth in nearly every other jurisdiction in the state.

The number of voters increased in Calvert County by 12.6 percent, in St. Mary's County by 17 percent and in Charles County by 18.7 percent, according to registration numbers released Thursday by the state Board of Elections.

Statewide, there was a 10 percent increase in registrations, with more than 300,000 newly registered Maryland voters eligible to cast ballots Nov. 4.

Baltimore experienced a 20 percent increase in the number of registered voters since 2004; Baltimore County registered 14 percent more.

One big reason for Southern Maryland's increase in voters is growth, said Michael Cain, director of St. Mary's College of Maryland's Center for the Study of Democracy.

"St. Mary's and Charles, in particular, are the fastest-growing counties in the state. Part of the new registration is associated with growth," Cain said.

Between 2004 and 2007, the most recent period for which U.S. Census data are available, Charles County's population increased by 4.3 percent. In the same period, the number of St. Mary's residents went up 5.7 percent, and Calvert had an increase of 3.3 percent.

"What is interesting is that the excitement generated by the presidential races did increase registrations," said Paul Herrnson, director of the Center for American Politics and Citizenship at the University of Maryland in College Park.

Statewide, the increase of 321,218 voters brings the number of registered Democrats to 1.9 million and the number of registered Republicans to 926,348. Most of the gain went to Democrats, who are up from 1.7 million in 2004; Republicans are up from 907,493.

The change is considered likely to favor the Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), who is expected to carry the heavily Democratic state.

Herrnson said Obama's candidacy probably prompted many African Americans to register for the first time this year.

"An African American on the ticket is likely to encourage a lot of African Americans who didn't participate before to register for the first time," he said. "And the presence on the Democratic ticket of a young, future-oriented candidate . . . is likely to mobilize another group, like young voters."