Iowa Voting Series, Paper 1: An Empirical Examination of Iowa Voter Registration Statistics Since 2000

In this short paper I take a look at Iowa's voter registration statistics since January, 2000. One goal of the paper is to help explain why Iowa is considered a swing state. Data for the examination come from the Iowa Secretary of State website which posts monthly updates on voter registration in the state. Results indicate that the number of registered voters in Iowa has remained fairly stable since 2000, much like its population. Registration between the two political parties (Democrats and Republicans) has also remained quite stable and fairly equal during the period with two exceptions: a lead opened up by Republicans in 2002-2003 and a larger lead opened up by Democrats in 2008-2009. In both instances the gap closed and the two parties returned to near equality. No Party voters (what Iowa calls registered voters who do not register with either political party) were always more numerous than those for either party.