An independent voter, often also called an unaffiliated voter or non-affiliated voter in the United States, is a voter who does not align themselves with a political party.An independent is variously defined as a voter who votes for candidates on issues rather than on the basis of a political ideology or partisanship; a voter who does not have long-standing loyalty to, or identification with . But the gap has narrowed since 2000, when moderates outnumbered liberals, 50% to 30%. Join us as we discuss 3 pros and cons to being an independent person. I've also been engaged in Democratic party politics and legislative work for the last decade. Being totally independent of party you can vote for anyone you want to without feeling like you committed adultery. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. You'll also find a bevy of resources on the U.S. Small Business Administration's website. Only about a quarter of non-leaners approved of Trumps job performance during his first two years, while about six-in-ten (58%) disapproved. By allowing candidates to see that theyre supported, even if theyre not the favorite, we encourage those candidates to run and express their opinions. During his first two years in office, Trumps job rating among members of his own party was relatively high compared with recent presidents. You can feel free to vote for a third-party candidate without the guilt of betraying your party. As an independent insurance agent, you'll have the opportunity to work with the full support of a field marketing organization, or FMO something captive agents can't do. The card millions of Californians use to register to vote is receiving its first makeover in more than a decade, inspired in part by confusion over how to become an independent unaffiliated voter a problem highlighted by a Los Angeles Times investigation in 2016. But voters are moving to care more about issues, rather than parties. I could hardly be an independent if I vote for one party always; I thought that context was pretty explicit, the question doesn't really make sense without the presumption that my vote won't effect presidential elections after all. In this article, we define what an independent contractor is and list examples, as well as explore the pros and cons of this type of work. If you really want to be more independent, and have the opportunity for a lot of . The forms are widely distributed in state and local government offices and through volunteer voter registration drives. On social issues I mostly support one side, but I lean towards the other side on many other issues; and ultimately I have no strong allegiance to either party and am frustrated whenever I see views that seem partisan or too extreme to either side, in short I think I truly am an independent at heart, not just on paper. He also wrote a weekly newsletter on California politics and provided regular news analysis. When many people expressed distaste toward voting for Biden over Trump, choosing instead to withhold their vote or vote third party, they were met with a barrage of Democratic supporters repeating the same phrase: V. When voters in 2016 were surveyed on why they supported their specific candidate, Clinton or Trump, : I dont like either, but Im voting for the lesser evil., There is something inherently problematic about voting for a candidate that doesnt back policies you support, expresses behavior that you find inappropriate or undesirable and may not even support your existence solely. Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. Being an independent contractor comes with a variety of benefits, including flexibility, autonomy and tax deductions for business expenses. 1 Nearly four-in-ten U.S. adults (38%) identify as politically independent, but most "lean" toward one of the two major parties. Politics are not black and whiteelections shouldnt just be about blue versus red, left versus right, Democrats versus Republicansbut about how much we as people are willing to put forward change in this country. The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. 4Independents particularly the 7% of Americans who dont lean toward a party are less politically engaged than partisans. Some voting methods require new software that election administrators dont have. Politics is more than just beating the other candidate. Voting has become a toxic act where people are told, if you dont vote for our candidate, you dont belong to our party. Why should people have to vote for someone they dont believe in and dont support? This is a long-standing dynamic that has been the subject of past analyses, both by Pew Research Center and others. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. But as experts in this field, weve developed a short list of criteria that we find to be critical for any voting method. They are also the single-most impediment to fixing our problems. Column: Does racism make you too stupid to be a cop? On D side, we have Clinton (and not Jessie Jackson) and Gore (and not Dean). EIN: 85-1311683. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. QGIS automatic fill of the attribute table by expression. In general elections, what percent of registered party voters defect, on average? While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. The poll failed with 55% No voters . Padilla said lawmakers also would be the only ones who could weigh in on whether a party should be able to use the word independent in its name the word elections officials say voters frequently latch onto in a quick scan of the registration form. Aside from Obama (and maaaaybe GWB if you squint hard enough), that wasn't true since Mondale in 1994. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? In North Carolina, for example, a voter registered as an independent can choose which primary they wish to vote in. You can still be and call yourself an independent. Large majorities of both Democrats (85%) and Democratic leaners (81%) say the U.S. economic system unfairly favors powerful interests. But it has some advantages too. When youre starting, apply to agencies that can connect you with contract work. In a survey conducted shortly after the November 2018 midterm election, just a third of those who dont lean toward either party (33%) reported voting. Here are 6 pros and cons of being independent. Independents views on the 2017 tax bill are more divided: 34% approve of the tax law and 43% disapprove. because of the party they belong to. In 2011, however, the wording became more complex. For those who want to remain unaffiliated, the card now gives them a box to check next to a new selection, No Party/None.. You must fund your Social Security and Medicare taxes. Only 7% of Americans overall dont express a partisan leaning, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. We recommend working with a top FMO like Ritter Insurance Marketing to help you get started on the right path. And while clear majorities of both Democrats and Democratic leaners favor same-sex marriage, Democratic-leaning independents are somewhat more likely than Democrats to hold this view (82% vs. 71%). That might help voters see the distinction missed by some in earlier versions between being an independent voter and selecting the American Independent Party a conservative political group founded in 1968 to boost the presidential campaign of former Alabama Gov. Some of the disadvantages of being a 1099 employee include you must fund 100% of your Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, retirement savings, as well as any tools and equipment needed for your profession. Israel and South Korea make national elections a holiday to avoid economic hardship for voters. Majorities of both Democrats (69%) and independents (68%) favor legalizing marijuana; Republicans are divided, with 45% supportive of legalization and 51% opposed. While there is a lot of freedom that comes with being an independent contractor, there is also a great deal of responsibility that comes with it. In 2000, GOP leaners included almost identical shares of conservatives (42%) and moderates (43%); 11% described their views as liberal. Right now, independents can certainly run, but they face a low likelihood of winning as theyre labeled spoilers who will make it harder for the similar, mainstream candidate to win a race. Among the public overall, 38% describe themselves as independents, while 31% are Democrats and 26% call themselves Republicans, according to Pew Research Center surveys conducted in 2018. A combination of issues prompted us to see if there was a better way, Padilla said. Required fields are marked *. Possessing a few fix-it and maintenance skills is liberating and cost-effective. sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade. For this reason, it can be misleading to look at independents as a single bloc. "It seems primaries are won by being the one that your hard-core party types like the best" - you seem to be watching different primaries from me? As you can see, each alternative voting method has its strengths and weaknesses, and none is perfect. Feinstein has vowed to return to Washington, but what happens if she doesnt? He said critics are biased if they arent also asking all the other parties about confusion regarding their names. Other voting methods allow voters to honestly vote for the candidates they like without fearing theyll be a spoiler. Among the public overall, 17% are Democratic-leaning independents, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party. But you can also vote for nobody, because, again, nobodys stopping you. But the best advice I can give is be engaged, know what you care about and vote as often as legal. All rights reserved (About Us). By the time the politician is running for president officially he already has been selected for a platform that is likely non-centralist. "Frequently Asked Questions.". After Sanders suspension, online forums and social media exploded with political disagreement. Most of the change since then has come among Republican-leaning independents, who feel much more positively about the GOP than they did then. Sanders suspending his campaign additionally meant Joe Biden would be the Democratic candidate for the 2020 electionthough not officially, as Sanders is still on the primary ballots, but is unlikely to secure votes. Views of immigrants impact on the country are largely positive among Democratic-leaning independents (88% say they strengthen the U.S.) and those who identify as Democrats (80%). 2Independents who lean to one of the two parties are often much closer to partisans in their views than they are to independents who lean to the other party. First, a pragmatic argument: an Independent candidate has rejected the advantages of being part of an established infrastructure and support network. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Why should they have to vote for anyone? Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. The way I see it--even after reading the informative article that Napalm provided--is that the individual has less voting power in an electoral college system. Fewer than half of independents (37%) are ages 50 and older; among those who identify as Democrats, 48% are 50 and older, as are a majority (54%) of those who identify as Republicans. But there are sharper differences in the views of Republicans and GOP leaners. His rating among GOP-leaning independents (72% in 2017, 69% in 2018) was not markedly different from Obamas and Clintons ratings among Democratic-leaning independents during their first two years in office (though much lower than Bushs among Republican leaners). Opinions among Democrats and Democratic leaners are nearly the mirror image: 88% of Democrats and 84% of Democratic leaners view the GOP unfavorably. In addition, far more independents say immigrants do more to strengthen (66%) than burden (23%) the country. 4. A wave of disappointment washed over democratic voters after Al Gore won the candidacy in 2000, and again in 2016 with Clinton, and its happening again with Biden this year. Public support for legalizing marijuana use has followed a similar upward trajectory in recent years. People who blindly toe party lines (my party, right or wrong) are the biggest kind of idiots in the country. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? At 21 (many years ago) I reasoned that no one party could always have the best candidates or have the perfect plan/platform at every given time. Nearly half of independents who do not lean to a party describe their views as moderate, while 24% are conservatives and 18% are liberals. We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Republican-leaning independents largely prefer a smaller government providing fewer services; 78% favor smaller government, compared with just 17% who favor bigger government with more services. Wide majorities of both Democrats and Democratic leaners say more needs to be done to give blacks equal rights with whites, while partisan identifiers are somewhat more likely than leaners to say this (85% vs. 78%). That's a dramatic shift from just two decades ago, when only 12 percent of Florida voters were neither Republican nor Democrat. For example, while 34% of independents as a whole said they approved of the way Donald Trump was handling his job as president in a March Pew Research Center survey, the gap between independents who lean to the GOP and those who lean to the Democratic Party (73% vs. 9%) was nearly as wide as the gap between Republicans and Democrats (85% vs. 8%). If you are Republican, you don't have to choose between being a regular or Tea Party Republican. Its been shown to easily elect a good candidate and encourage competition. PRO: Your Income Potential is Unlimited. Here are the basic pros and cons of becoming an independent contractor.#. Possibly due to lack of enthusiasm in the political process. Because people wont vote for the third party. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. The new registration forms are part of a broader series of changes that election officials hope will avoid a repeat of prior problems by the time the California presidential primary is held two years from now. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? The site is popular, as 40% of all newly registered California voters since 2017 used it to sign up. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). In that sense I figured that the mere act of being registered as an independent may affect the vote, because the more of us independents out there the more likely candidates would moderate their platform to recognize the needs of that swing-vote demographic and stick to more centralist policies. Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? Even if I choose to support a Republican candidate, I have no chance at all of changing the outcome of my states final vote. These shares have changed little in recent years. and fellow former Democratic presidential candidates. Why don't Democrat or Republican partisans register and vote in swing states? Please support our research with a financial contribution. Studied since the 1970s and often cited as one of the best alternative voting methods, approval voting simply asks voters to select all the candidates they approve of and the candidate with the most votes wins. But that was the first time it was really in the spotlight.. The ballot initiative, a form of direct democracy, is the process through which citizens exercise the power to place measures otherwise considered by state legislatures or local governments on statewide and local ballots for a public vote. So be real, most people haven't been to Comicon and don't even HAVE 13 costumes. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority of the vote. Regardless of the label, all are essentially the same in practice, including a self-employed designation when it comes to U.S. tax purposes. What were really asking is How happy are voters with the chosen winner?. The postage-paid voter registration card was last revised in 2008. About a quarter of both Republican leaners (24%) and Democratic leaners (27%) view both parties unfavorably, as do 37% of those with no partisan leaning. In 2017, 85% of those who identify as Republicans approved of Trumps job performance, based on an average of Pew Research Center surveys. Scottish Independence Scottland has been a part of the UK since 1707 after James VII was deposed in 1688 England feared that Scottland would go its own way which led to a formal union of the two kingdoms. In a survey last fall, clear majorities of Democrats (69%), Democratic-leaning independents (75%) and Republican-leaning independents (60%) favored marijuana legalization, but Republicans were divided (45% favored, 51% opposed). Among GOP-leaning independents, a 60% majority favors legalizing marijuana. Over the same period, there has been growth in the shares of Democrats and Democratic leaners identifying as liberal. Part three of a multi-part series on voting methods. For those with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the rewards will be more than just monetary. density matrix. Remember, though, that these agencies may withhold taxes and collect other deductions from your paychecks, depending on your working relationship with the firm. Being independent means you no longer have to explain away the crazies in your party, or explain rampant corruption, or sleazy behavior among party members. Yet the reality is that most independents are not all that independent politically. By Kirsten Elliott, Director of Philanthropy, there are dozens of voting methods out there, not one who leads to further political polarization, Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, there are only four independents serving in Congress, from the complicated process to get registered or just the fact that life can be really busy, Some voting methods require new software that election administrators dont have, after being the first alternative voting method to be implemented at the state level, IRV allows voters to rank the candidates in an election, IRV does a better job of electing voters true favorite candidates, can lead to unexpected results in tight races, often cited as one of the best alternative voting methods, voters cant differentiate between how much they like or dislike candidates. Its about making change. Internal Revenue Service. There are some issues on which partisan leaners especially those who lean toward the GOP differ substantially from partisans. In addition, Trumps rating has been more stable than prior presidents. The focus of criticism has been the traditional paper registration document. Lately I feel that isn't the case. Again anecdotally, the independent vote in Florida tends to either lean Libertarian, or strongly leftist-progressive.