Yesterday, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest population estimates for July 1, 2008. USA Today shows this nice summary table of all the states.
Kansas shows a 4.2% increase in population from 2000-2008 with 113,318 new residents. In just the last year Kansas added 24,752 new residents, which was a 0.9% growth rate and ranked #21 among the states.
But, a census population estimate comparison against the number of registered voters in Kansas shows some curious results.
See the chart below of the U.S. Census population estimate for Kansas for 2000-2008 and the number of registered voters in Kansas from data obtained from the Kansas Secretary of State over the same period of time.
The blue line below shows a steady population increase in Kansas reflecting the increase of 113,318 residents.
The green line below, which shows the registered voters in Kansas, is a bit more curious.
The decrease in registered voters from 2003 to early 2004, was possibly mostly a needed database purge of voters, who had been on the rolls but had not voted in years. Can readers suggest alternative interpretations for this decline?
The sharp increase in registered voters in 2004 is also a bit curious, and reflects the public’s interest in the 2004 Presidential election. A breakdown of this increase by political party has not yet been computed.
The relatively flat number of registered voters from 2005 through 2008 does not reflect the increase in the state’s population. The population increases but the number of voters does not?
From 6/30/2005 till 7/2/2008, the number of registered voters dropped by 22,102, while the population of the state over roughly the same period increased by 58,930. How can this be explained?
Is this difference a reflection of the illegal immigration into many areas of the state? If true, this reflects a growing two-tier society, which isn’t fair to either group, but especially the citizens of the state.
Can readers suggest alternative interpretations for the decline in registered voters during a period of an increase in residents of the state?
Related:
- Kansas has grown by 4.2% since 2000, Kansas Liberty, Dec 26, 2008.
- Minorities now majority in Dodge City, Dodge City Globe, Dec 22, 2008.
- Kansas May Have About 190,000 Phantom Voters, Kansas Meadowlark, Jan 13, 2008.
