Meant to post this earlier - Black Hawk County Voter Registrations (thanks to the caucuses)!

[Debi]

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/01/28/news/metro/doc479e1a8ccac6e730460884.txt

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The final tally shows Democrats have widened their registration lead over Republicans, picking up some 3,500 new members compared to just 500 registration changes or additions in favor of the GOP.

"Numbers-wise this is a huge increase over what we've seen in past caucuses," said Black Hawk County Auditor Grant Veeder, who serves as commissioner of elections.

With caucus night turnout breaking or approaching record levels, hundreds of new voters signed up to participate while others switched their party registration to support their chosen candidate.

"The vast majority of them were 'no party' switching to a party," Veeder said. "There were quite a few Republicans switching to Democrat ... and there were some Democrats switching to Republican."

Records show there were 1,658 voters registered as "no party" who registered as Democrats to participate at Black Hawk County caucus sites, while 358 independent voters changed their status to Republican. About 340 Republicans switched allegiance to the Democratic Party, while 73 Democrats signed up as Republicans. The balance of the registration cards came from new voters.

Pat Sass, chairwoman of Black Hawk County Democrats, was pleased with the surge in registration for her party, which now holds a 29,829 to 20,717 edge over the GOP in Black Hawk County, with nearly 32,000 "no party" voters.

"I think they're just upset with the other party, and they're making a change," Sass said. "But we can't know for sure why we got all the new registrations."

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How'd the turnout affect registration in other counties? :shrug:

[unc70]

1. A couple of questions by a curious outsider

I have a couple of left-over questions about what happened in Iowa. As a (former?) Edwards supporter from NC, I don't really have a horse left in the race, so this is mostly me as a political junkie. You have repeatedly shown a balanced position with good insight on some tough questions, so I have finally screwed up my courage. :)

Do we know if anything interesting happened with registration by college students? Family homes in Iowa versus elsewhere like IL? There was lots of talk before the caucuses, but I have seen nothing afterward looking at real data.

Bill Clinton mentioned there had been an Illinois student effect previously with Paul Simon (not so much in number of caucus attendees, but in terms of on-campus advocates). Was there anything to that, either back then or this year?

We know turnout was up dramatically. Was it mostly confined to the Obama camp, or was it across the board?

Were there any little-reported trends or observations that were likely missed by those of us outside Iowa?

Whenever you get a chance to respond, I look forward to your perspective (and that of others).

[4dsc]

2. Republicans switching to Democrat

as my republican put it, if Obama is not the democratic candidate, he'll be voting republican for president.. There were quite of few of republican neighbors at my caucus who voiced the same opinion.. So I'd take this report with caution..

[Debi]

3. I don't think anyone is being unrealistic - read the last part of the article

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Election officials also anticipate some of those changing their registration to participate in the caucuses will revert to their former status.

"We don't know how many are switching back, but I would guess that there are less than 100 registration forms in the on-hold pile" which has developed since the caucuses, Veeder said.

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