Following a hectic few weeks of processing the rush of new voter registration forms at the Butler County Bureau of Elections, the final numbers are in.

The county has never had more eligible voters.

This fall's 112,974 registered voters represents a 7 percent increase over the county's previous high watermark four years ago.

And the registration rolls grew by 8,534 voters since the May primary.

Credit the increase on the intense interest in the Nov. 2 election - most notably the presidential race, said Regis Young elections bureau director.

"The news media hype of the election was a big factor, too," he said. "And the parties and advocate groups also boosted the numbers with voter registration drives."

The county's Republican Party appeared to do a bit better getting new voters on the rolls, increasing its advantage over Democrats.

There are 57,743 Republicans and 42,480 Democrats in the county registered to vote in next month's election. The remaining 12,751 voters are registered independents or other third parties, or claim no affiliation.

Republicans account for 51.1 percent of registered voters; Democrats represent about 37.6 percent.

In 2002, Republicans comprised 48.9 percent of the county's electorate, compared to the Democrats' 40.3 percent.

"I'm obviously very happy that we've strengthened our numbers," said Jim Powers, chairman of the county Republican Committee.

He said the GOP handed out more than 400 voter registration forms at this year's Butler Fair and Butler Farm Show.

He noted in 1980, Republicans and Democrats were about divided evenly in the county.

"Within the last 20 years, we've seen a migration to the Republican Party, and I think that reflects the values of Butler County," he said. "We tend to be more conservative, pro-life and pro Second Amendment."

Mary Alice McCosby, vice chairman of the county Democratic Committee, admits the county continues trending Republican; but she cannot definitively explain why.

"I believe the Republican fear factor has gotten to so many people," she said, referring to the GOP emphasis on the war on terrorism as the issue in the presidential campaign that trumps all others and has transcended local politics.

McCosby said county Democrats have been actively registering new voters, particularly targeting younger voters with registration drives at colleges.

The last few weeks prior to the Oct. 4 deadline to register were the busiest Young had seen in the 16 years that he's headed up the elections bureau.

Just in the final two weeks before the deadline, 3,723 new voters were added to the rolls.

The last week or so was terribly busy," Young said. "Most of the new registrations were done by mail, but there were a number of walk-ins to the office."

Additionally, more absentee ballots have been sent out for this election than any previous one.

"We're pushing 5,000," he said of the requested absentee ballots. "Normally, we send out about 3,000."

The ballots must be returned by Oct. 29.

More absentee ballots for military families and overseas voters, which are handled separately, have also been requested than in prior elections.