Payson Roundup

Statewide voter registration declined slightly in the fourth quarter of 2009 while Gila County numbers remained steady.

As of Jan. 1, 2010, the state of Arizona had 3,116,089 active, registered voters, according to figures released Friday by Secretary of State Ken Bennett.

That is 2,389 fewer registered voters than the state had Oct. 1, 2009, at the end of the third quarter.

The decline is generally attributable to a registration reduction in Maricopa and Pima counties, which lost several thousand voters each in the fourth quarter. Nine of the state's 15 counties showed registration gains; five reported losses.

Gila County's registration figures were unchanged.

"The fourth quarter's slight dip in statewide voter registration is likely an anomaly," Secretary Bennett said. "I expect voter registration to trend upward as interest builds in preparation for this year's elections."

The ranks of voters who are Independent, unaffiliated or members of an unrecognized political party continue to grow. These voters, lumped together in the "Other" category, numbered 929,219 as of Jan. 1 – up 13,238 from a quarter earlier.

Republican registration fell slightly to 1,127,649 voters in the latest count - down 5,168 voters from the third quarter. The Democratic Party also saw a decline, reporting 1,034,395 registered voters. That's 7,020 fewer than the third quarter. Libertarian registration grew slightly to 24,826 voters, up 798 from the Oct. 1 report.

To register to vote, go Online to www.azsos.gov.