West Virginia: Biggest growth in voter registration is "no party" independents

GOP gains in voter totals
By Scott Finn
Charleston (WV) GazetteApr. 26, 2006--Republicans keep gaining ground in voter registration in West Virginia, but they still have a long way to go to match Democrats, according to statistics released Tuesday by Secretary of State Betty Ireland.
Republicans added another 19,000 registered voters in the state between the 2004 primary and today, while Democrats lost more than 7,500 voters.... The biggest growth was among independent voters, who register as “no party” in West Virginia. They increased their numbers by more than 16,000, or 14 percent.
Altogether, Democrats now make up 57 percent of registered voters, down from 59 percent in the last primary. Republicans are at 30 percent, up from 29 percent. The environmental Mountain Party has 1 percent, other parties have 1 percent, and “no party” voters make up 11 percent.... more