pros and cons of being an independent voter

Independent voters are outgrowing Democratic and Republican voters 2:1 in the last 2 presidential cycles. Considering we're generally in a 2-party system, the fewer voters who are registered as one or the other, the more likely candidates will try to appeal to the larger population, rather than just their "base". 5Independents feel more negatively about political candidates and parties than partisans. 4Independents particularly the 7% of Americans who dont lean toward a party are less politically engaged than partisans. In a two-party system, it is not surprising that most Americans view their own party favorably while viewing the opposing party unfavorably. Donate to Giving Compass to help us guide donors toward practices that advance equity. The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. As an independent contractor, you're your own boss, meaning you have more control, but you also have more responsibility. A 501(c)(3) organization. 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%). Partisan divides in the United States are as wide as theyve ever been in the modern political era. (US House/Senate). Advantages of being an independent contractor over being an employee include more control since you're your own boss. On taxes, two-thirds of GOP leaners approve of the tax law, while an identical share of Democratic leaners disapprove. Fact Sheet 13: Employment Relationship Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)/Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The benefits of being a registered independent. Specifically the 'as legal' part. People looked up to Sanders because he advocated change. @user4012 um not sure I understand your first comment. However, there are some potential drawbacks about being self-employed to consider too. Other voting methods allow voters to honestly vote for the candidates they like without fearing theyll be a spoiler. And a large majority of Democratic-leaning independents (75%) also favors marijuana legalization. John Myers led the Los Angeles Times coverage of state government as Sacramento bureau chief from 2015 to June 2022. Checking Irreducibility to a Polynomial with Non-constant Degree over Integer. In addition, far more independents say immigrants do more to strengthen (66%) than burden (23%) the country. I know this is a red state and most red Republicans would rather be caught with their pants down than labeled the D word. People who blindly toe party lines (my party, right or wrong) are the biggest kind of idiots in the country. Feinstein has vowed to return to Washington, but what happens if she doesnt? 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. It shouldnt be about party allegiance. I've heard that in some states (citation needed), only voters registered to a specific party may vote in the corresponding primary elections. You'll also find a bevy of resources on the U.S. Small Business Administration's website. When voters in 2016 were surveyed on why they supported their specific candidate, Clinton or Trump, most responded with the same answer: I dont like either, but Im voting for the lesser evil.. A California law says yes, Abcarian: By helping Kamala Harris, Biden can help himself to a second term. Partisan identification in the US, polls only weakly correlated to voter registration. We no longer have left and right, blue and red, Democrats and conservatives, but rather three parties, with progressives and socialists forming their own sphere. Like Democrats, most Democratic-leaning independents prefer bigger government. Most independents who do not lean toward a party share this view (70%). Other advantages may be longer-term or larger scale. I sort of would rather stay independent, both because it's more honest and because I kind of prefer not to have the moral obligation of participating in primaries, since I generally hate all politics and view political debates as an exercise in saying nothing as prettily as possible. Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly oppose the border wall (95% disapprove), as do Democratic identifiers (92%). The site is popular, as 40% of all newly registered California voters since 2017 used it to sign up. The Times found a substantial number of Californians who registered with the American Independent Party wrongly believed they werent part of any political party an error that later kept some from casting ballots in the states 2016 presidential primary. You dont have to receive junk mail. I've also been engaged in Democratic party politics and legislative work for the last decade. because of the party they belong to. The spectrum of political opinions is far too diverse and wide-ranging to be isolated to two groups that essentially represent the same issues, goals and policies. The new voter registration cards will be distributed as soon as the end of this week, and officials say the design was completed without spending more money. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. In their political attitudes and views of most issues, independents who lean toward a party are in general agreement with those who affiliate with the same party. 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. Independently decide if you really want to continue with Governor Bentley and have your children be last in education among the states. Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? But you should know there are a lot of local elections by which you could have a larger impact. Democrats and Democratic leaners are in sync in opinions about whether the nations economic system is generally fair. How well do you collaborate with others? It's too late to change that platform, even if the politician were willing to do so, and thus there is limited options to address the independent's needs, at least without reneging on your platform and promises. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? Independent agents tend to make a higher income, but at a higher risk. Statistically, it doesnt even make sense. In contrast to Republicans, Republican-leaning independents favored same-sex marriage (58% were in favor, 37% were opposed). The concept of a bipartisan system is flawed. Here are six advantages to being an independent case manager: 1. 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 . YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I spend a lot of time talking to people across the country about our work at The Center for Election Science to strengthen democracy. In fact, just a third said they voted in the midterms. By the time the politician is running for president officially he already has been selected for a platform that is likely non-centralist. 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. Join us as we discuss 3 pros and cons to being an independent person. George Wallace. To put that into perspective, in 13 counties across the state, non . For the past three years, the number of voters registering or re-registering as independent has. As in the past, more independents describe their political views as moderate (43%) than conservative (29%) or liberal (24%). The voter may abstain from voting if the two choices are not to the voters liking. rev2023.4.21.43403. Trumps job rating among independents, like his overall rating, breaks down along partisan lines. Are there advantages to my being registered as an independent in the US? Please support our research with a financial contribution. Another 22% have favorable opinions of both parties. . The postage-paid voter registration card was last revised in 2008. You no longer have to be labeled. I think a lot of people are still wrestling with what preference means, said Alexander. Democratic-leaning independents are younger than other independents or partisans. That is higher than the share of men among Republican identifiers (51% are men) and much higher than the share of men among Democrats (just 40%). In fact, his rating among Democratic-leaning independents during his first two years was about as low as his rating among Democrats (7% in 2017, 9% in 2018). Only 7% of Americans overall dont express a partisan leaning, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. People looked up to Sanders because he advocated change. In an interview, Padilla said additional clarity would have to come from the California Legislature. Independents who do not lean to a party widely favored same-sex marriage (65% favor this), while 70% say the use of marijuana should be legal. Still, the share of independents who view both parties negatively has declined in recent years. You can feel free to vote for a third-party candidate without the guilt of betraying your party. Nearly nine-in-ten Democratic leaners say immigrants strengthen the country because of their hard work and talents, compared with a somewhat narrower majority of Democrats (80%). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. [ 8][ 15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. In North Carolina, for example, a voter registered as an independent can choose which primary they wish to vote in. In most elections for local, state and national elections the voters must select from only two choices. somehow the 'vote as often as legal' comment amuses me. To help you network, gain expertise, and receive discounts on insurance and other self-employment expenses, consider joining professional organizations such as the National Association for the Self-Employed. You can still be and call yourself an independent. If you are Republican, you don't have to choose between being a regular or Tea Party Republican. It gives me an image of independents sneaking in to voting booths with a bunch of different silly costumes to vote 10 times an election :), Didn't you know? Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. As Pew Research Center reported last year, Donald Trumps job approval rating during the early stage of his presidency is more polarized along partisan lines than any president in the past six decades. . Become a newsletter subscriber to stay up-to-date on the latest Giving Compass news. Among Democratic-leaning independents, slightly more identify as moderates (45%) than as liberals (39%), while 14% are conservatives. Support for same-sex marriage was higher among Democratic-leaning independents than among Democrats (82% vs. 73%). As with the border wall, Democratic-leaning independents are more likely to view increased tariffs negatively (75% say they will be bad for the U.S.) than Republican-leaning independents are to view them positively (66% say they will be good). As you can see, each alternative voting method has its strengths and weaknesses, and none is perfect. It seems primaries are won by being the one that your hard-core party types like the best, which is not always the same as being the one that stands the best chance of actually becoming president. We no longer have left and right, blue and red, Democrats and conservatives, but rather three parties, with progressives and socialists forming their own sphere. State elections officials consulted with voting rights advocates and local registrars on the best way forward. 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? It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Being an independent contractor has its rewards, and whether it's worth it for you depends on the pros and cons. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the new cards instruction, in a larger font size, on political parties. It may have some flaws like lack of minority representation on the bench and perception of fairness. If I were registered Republican or Democrat, I could at least vote in the primaries, and in so doing have a say on which candidates are chosen to compete for the presidency, but as an independent I am not allowed to vote in either sides primaries. Nearly half of independents who do not lean to a party describe their views as moderate, while 24% are conservatives and 18% are liberals. GOP leaners favor substantially expanding the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border by roughly three-to-one (75% to 23%). Being totally independent of party you can vote for anyone you want to without feeling like you committed adultery. Schmidt, Steffen. Only about a quarter of non-leaners approved of Trumps job performance during his first two years, while about six-in-ten (58%) disapproved. Explore each state's voter registration age requirements at USA.gov. And even if the machines software supports a voting method, it may still require added complexities such as counting every ballot at one central location. He didnt represent the ideologies and policies of the Democratic party, but rather pushed an agenda that aligned with, the Green Partys socialist and lower-class-first initiative. It's OKif you are registered R or D so you can vote in that primary. Column: Does racism make you too stupid to be a cop? Students a, The latest edition of the PSU Vanguard is out! But you can also vote for nobody, because, again, nobodys stopping you. For Democrats you don't have to choose moderate or liberal. It's a matter of fact that Maryland has voted democratic for presidential elections for as long as I have been alive, I think it's pretty safe to assume that will continue in the near future. Are Democratic voters more firm in their voting preferences? "Frequently Asked Questions.". For those with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the rewards will be more than just monetary. 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. Opinions among Democrats and Democratic leaners are nearly the mirror image: 88% of Democrats and 84% of Democratic leaners view the GOP unfavorably. Trumps early rating among independents is closest to Clintons, whose job approval averaged about 42% during his first two years in office. On my opinion, I think it is faster than the other form of election as a general voter have that candidates on the ballot from democrats, republican or independent column. 2. . Is it safe to publish research papers in cooperation with Russian academics? Independent contractors are sometimes called ICs, consultants, freelancers, free agents, or contractors. So be real, most people haven't been to Comicon and don't even HAVE 13 costumes. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? I think the new form moves us to a better position, said Dean Logan, registrar of voters in Los Angeles County, who was part of the working group. 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. While a narrow majority of Republicans (54%) opposed same-sex-marriage in 2017, nearly six-in-ten Republican-leaning independents (58%) favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. It's very empowering to have the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wherewithal to look after yourself. They are giving up voting on who gets to represent each party at all. But it doesnt have to be this way. In 2011, however, the wording became more complex. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. They are also the single-most impediment to fixing our problems. Currently, 62% of the public says the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 34% say it should be illegal. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. . 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 contractors must fund 100% of their Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, and retirement. other data sources to make educated guesses about your political leanings, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. Politics is more than just beating the other candidate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for insurance agents was over $52,000 in 2020. This is a long-standing dynamic that has been the subject of past analyses, both by Pew Research Center and others. For this reason, it can be misleading to look at independents as a single bloc. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? 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. Successful ballot initiatives can create, change or repeal state and local laws . Read our, How To Succeed as an Independent Contractor, The Differences Between Employed vs. Self-Employed, What To Know About Household Employee Taxes, Hiring and Paying an Independent Contractor, How the IRS Determines Independent Contractor Status, The Tax Treatment of Self-Employment Income, What You Need to Know Before You Sign a W-9 Form, What To Do With an IRS Backup Withholding Notice. This is part of an overall process to modernize the elections process, Logan said. Among GOP-leaning independents, a 60% majority favors legalizing marijuana. Updated on June 03, 2021. Politics is more than just beating the other candidate. It also hasnt been implemented in an election yet, so some questions about implementation remain. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority of the vote. Still, about 70% of GOP leaners approved of his job performance during his first two years in office. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. You might find your opinions were a lot different than you thought, or that maybe, you just dont care as much as you felt you needed to. But voters are moving to care more about issues, rather than parties. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? But both tend to have lower voting turnout than the average voter, particularly in Mid-term elections. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. 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. If no candidate has a majority, the candidate with the least first-choice votes is eliminated, and those voters second-choice candidates receive their votes. And now in September 2014 there was a public poll if there should have been a Scottish Independence. The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. You arent an independent voter in California if you checked this box . The concept of a bipartisan system is flawed. Over the past two decades, Republicans and Democrats have come to view the opposing party more negatively. Public support for same-sex marriage has grown rapidly over the past decade. EIN: 85-1311683. Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. Ideally, the voting method should consistently elect a candidate who makes the average voter feel satisfied with the outcomenot one who leads to further political polarization. Trumps early job rating among members of the opposing party (7%) was much lower than those of three prior presidents (Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton). If he didnt belong in the Democratic race, then why was he there? density matrix. 4. Bush, whose overall job rating approached 90% in his first year following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had approval ratings above 60% among independents in his first two years. STAR (Score Then Automatic Runoff) Voting. In addition, far more independents (28%) than Republicans (10%) or Democrats (9%) have an unfavorable opinion of both parties. Theres a reason why more and more people have shifted over to being registered as an independent voter in the wake of the last several elections. 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. There are similar patterns in many political areas. First, a pragmatic argument: an Independent candidate has rejected the advantages of being part of an established infrastructure and support network. If, for example, a majority of the voting population are registered to a candidate's party, they'll more likely consider your vote as "in the bag" without working hard to earn it. Unfortunately, this isnt an exhaustive academic paper on voting methods, so well focus on just a few of the alternative voting methods with the most momentum right now. Probably the only alternative voting method youve heard about, after being the first alternative voting method to be implemented at the state level. This positions us to be in a better place in 2020., Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast. The tendency of my state's voting doesn't really have anything to do with my independent views? Its about making change. Many of Sanders supporters felt his chances at the presidency had been smeared and interfered with by liberal media and fellow former Democratic presidential candidates. Read parts one and two. IRV allows voters to rank the candidates in an election in order of preference, and the candidate with the majority of first-choice votes wins. "Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? By allowing candidates to see that theyre supported, even if theyre not the favorite, we encourage those candidates to run and express their opinions. 6 pros of being an independent case manager. Independents often are portrayed as political free agents with the potential to alleviate the nations rigid partisan divisions. During his first two years in office, Trumps job rating among members of his own party was relatively high compared with recent presidents. There exists an element in a group whose order is at most the number of conjugacy classes, Understanding the probability of measurement w.r.t. However, this simplicity comes at a cost that frustrates some, as voters cant differentiate between how much they like or dislike candidates. In the wake of sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade, many on the left rallied against Biden being the Democratic candidate. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Still, a survey conducted for The Times in 2016 found 73% of American Independent Party voters believed they were unaffiliated with any party. Sign up for The Balances newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning! Many of Sanders supporters felt his chances at the presidency had been smeared and interfered with by liberal media. Independents are now the largest voting group in the state, and that trend is only growing. George Wallace, The focus of criticism has been the traditional paper registration document, Californias top-two primary has made state and congressional elections open to all voters, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner. The focus of criticism has been the traditional paper registration document. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. There are already many barriers that discourage people from voting, from the complicated process to get registered or just the fact that life can be really busy. And, thanks to a recent Morrison Institute study, more is known about Arizona independents than in any other state. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? People often ask me what makes a good winner in an election, and theyre surprised when I share that it has nothing to do with the candidate and their platform. "Estimated Taxes. IRV does a better job of electing voters true favorite candidates than our current method and encourages more competition. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. Want to read more content like this? Only 7% of Americans overall don't express a partisan leaning, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. He described a voters political party as an incidental aspect of registration and said that questions about voter confusion were speculative.. After Sanders suspension, online forums and social media exploded with political disagreement. Robinson also rejected the idea that confusion is a key reason that his party now represents more than a half-million Californians almost quadruple the next closest group in size, the states Libertarian Party. . Pros of Independence Self-confidence. 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. As a 14-year registered Democrat and 1-year registered Republican, the only advantage I see as registering as an independent is that you don't get bombarded by phone calls and mailers when it comes time for the Primary. Maryland is safely a Democratic leaning state, with the last time going to a Republican was in 1988, giving its 10 electoral votes to Bush. 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). Do you consider yourself independent person? There has been a similar trend in how Republican leaners view the Democratic Party; very unfavorable opinions have increased from 15% in 1994 to 39% in 2018. Democratic leaners, like Democrats, overwhelmingly disapprove of the president. If you really want to be more independent, and have the opportunity for a lot of . Those who do not lean toward a party a group that consistently expresses less interest in politics than partisan leaners were less likely to say they had registered to vote and much less likely to say they voted. Democratic leaners (48%) and Republican leaners (54%) were considerably more likely to say they voted, though both groups reported lower rates of voting than partisans.

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