This year’s showdown for ultimate control of the State Senate—independent redistricting or not, the Republicans will almost certainly be consigned to the oblivion, Malcolm Smith threatened back in May—comes down to a handful of races. And those races will come down to the votes. And those votes will come down, in large part, to the registration.

For the 11 most competitive districts heading into November, here are the 2008 results and the current registration, with all the promise and terror they hold for Republicans and Democrats alike.