Who Are Those Guys?

SEBRING - Since 1994, Democrats have gained 20,000 registrations. Republicans have added 40,000. But the others - the 26 minor parties and voters with no party affiliation - have gained nearly 70,000 men and women.

"I think that's the motor voter registrations more than anything else," said Pat Hogan, chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Highlands County. When drivers get a license, they're asked if they want to register to vote. Young people and those who haven't given much thought to politics will agree.

"They don't have any idea what party they want to be in," Hogan said. "The wife asks the husband, or the husband asks the wife, and if they can't decide, they just put down no party for now."

The National Voter Registration Act was established by Congress in 1993. By 1999-2000, 38 percent of the 45.6 million people registered or changed addresses at motor vehicle offices; another 31 percent used the mail.

Congressman Tim Mahoney interprets the dramatic rise in independent voters differently: "I think there are more people interested in Florida, who stand for Florida than stand for a party."

The fact that Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, was elected in 2006, even though Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 31,000 registered voters, meant the independents swung his way.

"The reality is that from what Bob Graham (a Democratic governor and senator) and Bill Nelson (a Democratic senator) have done in my district, you would think it's a Democratic district," Mahoney said.

The GOP has gained the most since the realigning election of 1994, when Newt Gingrich and the Republicans took over both houses of Congress.

Since 2002, however, Democrats have outstripped Republicans by 15,000 to 11,000. Independents have gained even more though,

As of Oct. 10, Democrats, Republicans and No Party Affiliation numbered about 49,000 whites, 4,100 blacks, 4,200 Hispanics, and about 2,200 others.