Registered voters have increased slightly in Polk County for the third cycle in a row.

There are 14,871 registered voters in Polk County as of Wednesday, Oct. 20, an increase of 198 over the 14,673 voters registered for the 2008 election.

Republicans have 5,309 registered voters this year, with Democrats at 4,906 registered voters, Unaffiliated at 4,639 and Libertarian at 17.

This year, more Polk County voters are registered as Republicans than as Democrats, Libertarians or Unaffiliated. This is a change from 2000, when Polk County had 5,722 registered Democrats compared to 5,563 registered Republicans.

The increase in total registered voters from 2008 comes largely in Unaffiliated voters. This year’s Unaffiliated total of 4,639 is 422 voters greater than the total of 4,217 in 2008. Libertarians have also increased; none were registered in 2008 and 17 are on the registered voter list this year.

Democrat and Republican totals both dropped off slightly from 2008. In 2008, there were 4,987 registered Democrats in Polk County and 5,469 registered Republicans. Currently, there are 4,906 registered Democrats and 5,309 registered Republicans.

Residents may still register to vote during early voting, which continues until Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. at three locations (see story below). The general election will be held Nov. 2.