Tired of Gridlock, Voters Leave Major Parties

North country voters in recent months have become more likely to say "no thanks" to the two major parties, a result, some experts say, of gridlock and embarrassment in Washington.

"It really spells out their disgust with both parties," said Robert N. Wells, an emeritus professor at St. Lawrence University, Canton. "That's the way I look at it."

Over the past six months, the percentage of voters who are enrolled as Democrats or Republicans has dropped by half a percent, with more voters turning toward no party affiliation or toward minor parties. Similar dips occurred in recent years, and the proportion of major party enrollees is at its lowest number in nearly a decade.

For example, in April, the state Board of Elections said that 41.8 percent of voters in the 23rd Congressional District were Republicans, while 30.9 percent were Democrats. By November , those numbers had dropped to 41.5 percent for the Republicans and 30.7 percent for the Democrats.

"I'm sure that some of it has to do with frustration with the political process," said Rep. William L. Owens, who represents the 23rd District. "The failure this summer to act rationally and like adults in the room relative to the debt ceiling is one cause. I think the recent breakdown of the supercommittee is also another."

Mr. Wells, the SLU professor, said that New York's laws keep its parties strong. For example, only registered members of a political party can vote in a primary.

"The parties dominate everything, even though the power of the parties has decreased," he said. For example, "If you want to be a judge, you've got to suck up."

Mr. Wells said that might be changing with historic ineptitude in the federal government.

"The most dedicated member of either party may be sitting there saying, 'My God, what is happening? Why am I a part of this?'" he said. "There's going to be a lot of angst to both parties."

But even though the changes might reflect the mood of the country and the north country's opinion vis-a-vis Washington gridlock, they're too minute to have a great effect on strategy in the 2012 congressional race.

"It's remarkably static," said Republican businessman Matthew A. Doheny, who will try for a second time to unseat Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh. "In terms of percentage, it hasn't really changed that much."

Mr. Doheny noted that the district is still a "reliably Republican" district, even though for the past two elections, it has elected a Democrat, Mr. Owens.

"Here, we have the enrollment edge," said Donald G.M. Coon III, Jefferson County GOP chairman. "It's just getting Republicans to vote for Republicans."

Mr. Owens said the most recent numbers won't change his strategy.

"I think that we will continue to work along, doing the job, working really in a bipartisan way," he said.

The north country's reputation as a Republican bastion has taken some hits of late, not only from the Democratic congressional victory, but from Darrel J. Aubertine, a Democrat who won a traditionally Republican seat in the state Senate in 2008.

He was since defeated by a Republican in 2010, but the victories in successive years were seen by some Democrats as a turning of the tide. The numbers bear that out. In November 2003, Republicans held a 45.2 percent to 28.9 percent registration edge over Democrats in the 23rd Congressional District, which has diminished to the 41.5 percent to 30.7 percent advantage today.

"The numbers look like we're moving in the right direction," said Sean M. Hennessey, Jefferson County Democratic Party chairman. "I think the north country is moving to a progressive society, not being dominated by one party."

Mr. Hennessey chalked that up to demographic influences, such as Fort Drum, and newfound efforts in the Jefferson County party, which has forged closer ties with labor unions.

Mr. Coon, the Republican chairman, blamed the Democratic gains partly on a nonexistent voter registration effort and bad years for Republicans nationally from 2006 to 2008, the waning years of the George W. Bush administration.

Redistricting is soon to render such statistical analyses irrelevant. Sometime early next year, the state will redraw its political boundaries to account for shifts in population, which happens every 10 years. The 23rd Congressional District is likely to grow to make up for a relative loss in population, taking in neighboring areas that will shift the number of Ds and Rs even more.

Mr. Owens, who met with Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other members of New York's congressional delegation in November, said his office was mostly in the dark about the redistricting process.

"I don't think anything is going to happen in December," he said. "So we're basically just sitting here."