While Schuylkill County continues to be a Republican stronghold, a smattering of voters have aligned with a number of lesser-known political parties. The county currently has a total of 84,347 registered voters, down a bit from last year's 84,646.

The county is home to 39,590 Republicans and 35,280 Democrats. Another 4,095 claim no political affiliation, and 2,871 are nonpartisan; with 1,460 as Independent; 480 are Libertarians; 142 members of the Green Party; 108 have no party affiliation; 34 list their affiliation as Constitution and 71 listed "other."Fifty voters listed their affiliations as "none."The Patriot and Reform parties have 17 members each; 15 listed Liberal; and the Independent Republican and Independent Democrat parties listed 13 members each.-Getting into the single digits, nine voters listed Independence as their party, seven each listed Conservative and undecided, six listed Socialist, five each listed American and unsure.The Christian and Constitutional parties have three members each, and three voters marked themselves unaffiliated.The Tea Party has two members, as do the #66 for Perot, Communist, Constitutionalist, Democratic Socialist, and Moderate parties. Two people listed their affiliations as "unknown."Finally one person each claimed membership in United We Stand, U.S. Labor, Whig, American Independent, Barack Obama, Christian Democratic Party USA, Citizen's, Federalist, Freedom, Green Democrat, Independent/ Republic, Independence Party of America, Independent Contitutionalist,Indepent (sic), Labor, Neo-Agrarian, and Prohibition parties.One person each listed split party, uncertain, bipartisan, both major parties, and N/A.Whatever a voter's affiliation, Brennan reminded residents that Oct. 28 is the last day to apply for a civilian absentee ballot, and 5 p.m. Oct. 31 is the deadline for the election board to accept voted civilian absentee ballots.The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 4.