Opinion: Is there any doubt that Barack Obama will carry California? No

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More than a million Californians have registered to vote since Sept. 5, pushing the state’s total to 17.3 million registered voters--the bulk of them, by far, Democrats.

In a statement issued Friday, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen reported that the number of Democrats increased to 7.683 million, or 44% of the state’s registered voters.

That was an increase of 600,000 voters from May. It also reflects a gain over 2004, when there were 7.1 million Democrats, accounting for 43% of the state’s voters.

Overall, 74.56% of California’s eligible voters are registered, a slight drop from the 75% four years ago, and down from 80.21% in 1996.

In the latest count, the number of Republicans fell to 5.42 million, or 31.37% of the state’s electorate, down from 5.7 million four years earlier, Bowen said.

The Republicans’ loss was the gain of nonpartisans.

The number of California voters who declined to state a party preference remains the fastest-rising segment. There are now 3.44 million decline-to-state voters, or 19.9% of the electorate. That is up from 2.9 million and 17.67% in 2004.

The long-term trend is less than rosy for political parties. In 1996, 11.3% of the voters declined to state a party preference, while 47.2% were Democrats and 36.4% were Republicans.

In Los Angeles County, Democrats currently hold a 51.8%-24.06% edge over Republicans.

In Orange County, Republicans hold a 44.4%-31.82% edge over Democrats.

Alameda County is the most heavily Democratic county, with 57.59% Democratic. Lassen County in far Northern California has the smallest Democratic registration, at 28.66%.

--Dan Morain