FRANKFORT, Ky. — Voters who are registered Republican have pulled nearly even with Democrats in Kentucky, thanks to a surge of party-switching at the end of the year.

Dec. 31 is the deadline to change party registration and still vote in that party’s upcoming primary. That may have played a role in Democrats losing more than 5,500 voters and Republican gaining more than 5,600 — a swing of more than 11,000 voters.

Democrats still hold a narrow lead of 34,000, with both parties having roughly 1.6 million voters.

Independent and third party voters make up 9.5 percent of Kentucky’s electorate.