FRANKFORT — More Kentuckians registered to vote as independents or under other political affiliations than as Republicans and Democrats combined in July, according to new voter registration figures released Friday by the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office.

Secretary of State Michael Adams said 8,598 new voters registered during the month, with voters outside the state’s two major political parties continuing to drive registration growth ahead of the November election.

“In July, more Independents registered to vote in Kentucky than Republicans and Democrats combined,” Adams said in a statement. “Neither party can prevail in a statewide race with only its base; both must reach out to the center.”

Overall, Kentucky’s voter rolls increased by a net 4,981 voters in July after 3,617 registrations were removed.

The removals included:

• 2,650 deceased voters
• 401 convicted felons
• 275 duplicate registrations
• 213 voters who moved out of state
• 60 people adjudged mentally incompetent
• 12 voters who voluntarily canceled their registration
• Six people identified as noncitizens

Republicans remain Kentucky’s largest voting bloc, accounting for 48% of registered voters with 1,622,656 registrations. The party added 2,483 voters during July, an increase of 0.15%.

Democrats make up 41% of the electorate with 1,370,754 registered voters. Democratic registration declined by 32 voters, a decrease of 0.002%.

Voters registered under other political affiliations, most of whom are independents, now total 383,889, representing 11% of Kentucky’s electorate.

The “other” category grew by 2,530 voters during July, a 0.66% increase, the largest percentage increase among the three registration groups.

The latest figures come as Kentucky prepares for the November general election.