HARRISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell University political science professor Chris Ellis says Pennsylvania's two biggest political parties are now closer in number than they've been in more than a decade.
According to the Department of State, registered Democrats outnumber Republican voters in the commonwealth by just shy of 400,000.
Statistics show that number comes from a decline in registered Democrats and an increase in Republican voter registrations over the past few years.
"There's a good number of people, particularly in central Pennsylvania, maybe in northeast Pennsylvania, that have been sort of basically acting Republican for years registered as Democrats because it was a family thing. They've done it all their lives," said Chris Ellis, Bucknell University political science professor.
In Union County, voters we spoke with say a difference in political party all depends on where you live.
"Town, I think it is Democratic. Outside is Republican," said Murat Hokka of Lewisburg.
"This area right here in Lewisburg, this is more of a liberal area with Bucknell here. This is one of the few areas that actually is liberal," said Jeffrey Bunch of Northumberland.
Jeffrey Bunch of Northumberland says the near-split in registered voters is a clear sign that on Election Day, every vote matters. "Very important especially the way everyone is divided right now."
In 2020, less than 100,000 votes separated President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.
Some experts say it may be even closer this time around.
"The number of voters that are going to be up for grabs is pretty high; it's hard to pinpoint exactly who it is. Is it gonna be the cities that change? Is it going to be the suburbs? I think in a state this close, like, everywhere matters no matter where you are, everyone's vote basically counts the same at this point," said Professor Ellis.
Professor Ellis says there has also been a jump in independent or third-party voters in recent years.
He anticipates this number will continue to grow, but for this upcoming general election, he does not think it will have much of an impact on who wins and who loses.