Looking to boost Republican registration before the Nov. 4 election, state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner continued -- and added to -- a preexisting program that gives an $8 bounty for every newly registered voter to the community groups and county committees that sign them up.

The new amount, raised by $2, will be in effect through Oct. 20, the deadline to register to vote on Nov. 4. Poizner, an independently wealthy Republican, is providing the additional money for registrations.

Party volunteers in California said the bounty boost will help get more Republicans involved in competitive races statewide this fall.

"These additional resources from Steve Poizner will serve us well in our efforts to continue bringing new California Republicans into the fold and to keep our volunteer clubs supplied with the resources they need to grow our party from the ground up," said Tom Bordonaro, a former state Assemblyman and chair of the San Luis Obispo County Central Republican Committee in a press release.

The new, higher bounty will begin with registrations submitted Monday.