Voter registration is rising across most of New Jersey as the November midterm Congressional elections approach, largely to the benefit of Democrats over Republicans.

But the major parties aren’t the only ones gaining thousands of new recruits in the last few years.

An analysis of voter registration data shows that minor parties — including the Conservative, Libertarian and Socialist parties — have grown fastest since 2016 in New Jersey.

Registration in the seven minor parties reported by the state Division of Elections doubled from December 2016 through July 2018, a continuation of a trend that has seen those numbers climb more than 10-fold since 2012.

Minor-party membership still represents less than 1 percent of 5.8 million registered voters in New Jersey. But the number for all minor parties combined soared from 18,374 in 2016 to 32,519 in 2017 to 41,444 in 2018.

The top beneficiary over the past two years: the Constitution Party, which has grown from 2,824 to 8,288 registered voters supporting its goals of a limited federal government, followed by the Conservative Party, with similar aims attracting an increase from 3,696 to 8,447.

Also benefiting from the surge in interest are the Green, Libertarian and Socialist parties, which now have between 3,600 and 10,200 registered voters.

While the minor parties reap the fastest rate of increase, the Democratic Party grew the most from December 2016 to July, growing by 106,300, from 2.08 million to 2.19 million. Republican Party registration rose by about 56,400, from 1.22 million to 1.27 million.

Total registration has grown from 5.84 million to 5.85 million since 2016.

Some of the biggest Democratic surges have come in the most contested Congressional races – the 5th, 7th and 11th districts now held by Democrat Josh Gottheimer and Republicans Leonard Lance and Rodney Freylinghuysen, who is not seeking re-election. Democrats also have made registration gains in the 2nd district, held by the retiring Republican Frank LoBiondo.

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