New York Times Story on Declining Democratic Voter Registration Inexplicably Omits Two States

The print edition of the New York Times of August 21 has a front-page story, “Democrats See Profound Loss in Registration”.  It describes the declining share of voters who register as Democrats, in the period 2020-to the present.  The story is basically accurate, but it fails to reveal that the trend has been in existence since 1992.  Ballot Access News has documented this in the August 1, 2025 issue.

Also, oddly, the Times skipped Arkansas and Missouri, states which do ask about party affiliation on the voter registration form.

Florida Won’t Bother to Respond in U.S. Supreme Court in Case Over Independent Voters Voting in Primaries

On August 18, Florida informed the U.S. Supreme Court that it doesn’t intend to file a response in Polelle v Byrd, 25-147.  This is the case filed by an independent voter who is seeking the ability to vote in partisan primaries.  Florida now has closed primaries.  The Democratic Party of Florida has been thinking about inviting independents to vote in Democratic primaries, but so far hasn’t decided.

Eric Adams is Told by New York City Board of Elections that He Can’t Appear Twice on November 2025 Ballot

Eric Adams, incumbent Mayor of New York City, is running for re-election in November 2025 as an independent candidate. He submitted two petitions, one with the label “Safe and Affordable” and one with the label “End Anti-Semitism”. Both petitions had enough valid signatures. But the Board of Elections said he must withdraw one of them, because they interpret the law to prohibit an independent from being on the ballot twice (one for each label).

Adams says that is unfair, because Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is on the ballot twice, with his labels being “Democratic” and “Working Families.” He may sue. In the meantime it is reported that he will choose to be on the ballot with the “Safe and Affordable” label.