Voter registration hits 16.1 million

The number of registered voters in California exceeds 16 million for the first time in more than three years, according to the secretary of state's latest Report of Registration released recently.

The state now has 16.1 million voters, an increase of more than 1 million voters since the close of voter registration before the statewide primary four years ago. The percentage of eligible voters who are registered to vote also has increased from 68.95 percent in 2004 to 70 percent now. The last time California had 16 million registered voters was in early 2005.

The number of voters registered as Democrats increased from 6.5 million in 2004 to 7 million in 2008.

Voters registered as Republican decreased from 5.4 million in 2004 to 5.2 million in 2008.

The number of American Independent registered voters went up from 291,000 in 2004 to 332,000 in 2008.

The total number of registered voters in other parties- Green, Libertarian and Peace and Freedom- declined from 314,000 in 2004 to 257,000 in 2008.

Voters who declined to state a party increased in number from 2.5 million in 2004 to 3 million in 2008.

Voter numbers are rounded.