First, looking at party registration:
With October's numbers, registered unaffiliated voters have hit 30 percent of the voter registration pool, tying with registered Republicans.
Next, looking at the racial and ethnic composition of the NC voter registration pool:
As a reminder: race and ethnicity are considered two different classifications. The notable aspect: white non-Hispanic/Latino voters are now below 60 percent of the voter pool. While they will make up more than that (most likely) in the electorate (those who show up to cast ballots), the increasing diversification of the state's demographics are having a profound impact on North Carolina's political environment.
The party registration by various racial & ethnic groups:
Next, looking at gender break-down:
Female voters make up a majority of voter pool and will also make up a majority of the electorate when November 8 comes around.
The party registration based on gender is:
Among female voters, registered Democrats are 44 percent, registered Republicans are 29 percent, and registered unaffiliated is 27 percent. Among male voters, registered Democrats are 36 percent, registered Republicans are 33 percent, and registered unaffiliated voters are 31 percent.
Next, much has been made about the urban/rural divide in North Carolina politics:
Nearly three-quarters of the voters reside in either an urban or suburban county in the state; if 2012 is any indication, 50 percent of the votes cast will be from thirteen counties out of the 100 counties in the state.
The party registration among urban, suburban, and rural counties are:
Among urban counties, registered Democrats are 42 percent, registered unaffiliated voters are 31 percent, and registered Republicans are 27 percent. In suburban counties, 38 percent are registered Republicans, 31 percent are registered Democrats, and 30 percent are registered unaffiliated voters. In rural counties, 41 percent are registered Democrats, 32 percent are registered Republicans, and 27 percent are registered unaffiliated.
Next, the in-migration into North Carolina has also transformed the state's voter pool:
The party registration breakdown by native vs. born out of state is:
Among native North Carolinians, 44 percent are registered Democrats, 31 percent are registered Republicans, and 25 percent are registered unaffiliated. Among those born out of North Carolina (or unknown birth state), 37 percent are registered Democrats, 34 percent are registered unaffiliated, and 29 percent are registered Republicans.
Among those who registered before 2012 and those after, the party registration breakdown is:
Among those registered before or in 2012, 42 percent are registered Democrats, 31 percent registered Republicans, and 26 percent registered unaffiliated. Among those who have registered after 2012, 42 percent are registered unaffiliated, 31 percent registered Democratic, and 26 percent registered Republican.
Finally, another shift in the state's voter pool is generationally. While Baby Boomers are still a plurality of NC voters, Millennial voters are rapidly catching up to probably equal one-third of the electorate, along with Baby Boomers at some point right after the election.
The party registration numbers within these generations are also quite striking.
Past elections tend to indicate an electorate that is more partisan (both registered Democrats and Republicans make up a greater percentage than unaffiliated), tend to be older, whiter, and from urban areas. We will have to await November 8th's final numbers to compare against the typical picture, but the potential pool of voters is pretty much set for the general election.
Updated late Sunday evening (10-16-16) with party registrations within different categories/classifications.
