Edward McKinley is reporting for the Times Union the state Board of Elections released voter data this week showing that enrollment for both the Democrat and Republican parties has decreased since November, while the ranks of the number of Capital Region residents enrolling in the Conservative and Working Families parties have increased. New York reduced the number of parties allowed ballot access in the November presidential election, so now only the Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Working Families parties and "other" remain, as well as people who left their party enrollment blank. The Conservatives and Working Families saw growth region-wide, particularly the WFP, which measured significant gains in Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties. Anita Thayer, secretary of the Capital Region WFP, said the group has focused on signing up new members in Rensselaer County after hearing reports about GOP-led efforts to take over the ballot line. The Conservative Party has grown in Albany, Rensselaer and Warren counties, while it remained the same or decreased in Washington, Schenectady, Saratoga, Greene and Columbia counties. Statewide, Democratic enrollment decreased less than 1 percent, while GOP enrollment decreased less than 2 percent. In the Capital Region, enrollment for the two major parties decreased in each of the eight counties — with Democrats decreasing more than Republicans. Read the full story in the Times Union.