What does this measure?

The percentage of the voting-age population (18 and over) that is registered to vote.

Why is this important?

Voter registration is a gauge of interest and participation in the political process.

How is Orange County performing?

Between 76% and 83% of Orange County's voting-age population has been registered to vote since 2000, consistently lower than state (excluding NYC) rates. Orange's rates lagged behind regional rates in 7 of the 15 years between 2000 and 2014, and matched the regional rate in 2015. Similar to state and regional trends, voter registration has decreased over time in the county, falling from its peak of 83% during the 2000 and 2008 presidential elections to 80% for the 2014 election. In 2015, the registration rate in Orange was above Dutchess (78%) and less than Ulster (80%).

Notes about the data

Comparable national data are not available.