pros and cons of being an independent voter

//pros and cons of being an independent voter

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. If he didnt belong in the Democratic race, then why was he there? A recent Pew Research Center report took a detailed look at these Americans. 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. So be real, most people haven't been to Comicon and don't even HAVE 13 costumes. 1 Nearly four-in-ten U.S. adults (38%) identify as politically independent, but most "lean" toward one of the two major parties. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Public support for same-sex marriage has grown rapidly over the past decade. But you can also vote for nobody, because, again, nobodys stopping you. 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. People looked up to Sanders because he advocated change. 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. Sign up for The Balances newsletter for daily insights, analysis, and financial tips, all delivered straight to your inbox every morning! While that may cut down on contacts from campaigns that are only using government-supplied voter data, larger/more sophisticated campaigns can use. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA Alexander praised officials for the new registration card because it embraces the plain language movement in election materials. Independent agents tend to make a higher income, but at a higher risk. Because that's what this race is truly about. 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. Regarding any advantages of being registered as an Independent, it may depend on the state where you are registered. How is white allowed to castle 0-0-0 in this position? Large majorities of both Democrats (85%) and Democratic leaners (81%) say the U.S. economic system unfairly favors powerful interests. Feinstein has vowed to return to Washington, but what happens if she doesnt? 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. Are there any other pros to being independent? Hea, PSU rearms campus police officers 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. R primaries selected Romney, McCain, and Reagan, not Cain, Keyes/Huckabee or Robertson. 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. Is voting worth trading your moral or ethical stance for? 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). We also want the method to be simple to implement. Through our local organization, Independent Voters for Arizona, thousands of letters are being directed to state and party leaders, seeking equal voting rights as independents in primary elections! Pros of Independence Self-confidence. 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. But there are dozens of voting methods out there. Being totally independent of party you can vote for anyone you want to without feeling like you committed adultery. But as experts in this field, weve developed a short list of criteria that we find to be critical for any voting method. The share of Democratic-leaning independents with a very unfavorable opinion of the Republican Party has more than quadrupled between 1994 and 2018 (from 8% to 37%). Being an independent contractor comes with a variety of benefits, including flexibility, autonomy and tax deductions for business expenses. @user4012 um not sure I understand your first comment. Democratic leaners include roughly equal shares of men (51%) and women (49%). And the small share of Americans who are truly independent less than 10% of the public has no partisan leaning stand out for their low level of interest in politics. Independents stand out from partisans in several important ways. Currently, 62% of the public says the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 34% say it should be illegal. . 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. While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. The party joined Republicans in nominating Donald Trump in 2016. Politics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people interested in governments, policies, and political processes. Yet the reality is that most independents are not all that independent politically. Like other professions, being an independent consultant is one great roller coaster ride, with its many highs, lows, twists and turns. Other voting methods allow voters to honestly vote for the candidates they like without fearing theyll be a spoiler. This process continues until a candidate receives a majority of the vote. On most issues, independents attitudes mirror the views of the overall public. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, found a substantial number of Californians who registered with the American Independent Party wrongly believed they werent part of any political party, Road to vindication for Californias Barbara Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against Afghanistan war, Burned trees and billions in cash: How a California climate program lets companies keep polluting, Column: A centrist, third-party alternative for 2024 is a nice idea but a nightmare in practice, founded in 1968 to boost the presidential campaign of former Alabama Gov. In 2000, GOP leaners included almost identical shares of conservatives (42%) and moderates (43%); 11% described their views as liberal. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. Like Democrats, most Democratic-leaning independents prefer bigger government. In views of racial equality and womens progress, the views of partisan leaners are comparable to those of partisans. GOP leaners are divided: 49% say the system is generally fair, while nearly as many (46%) say it unfairly favors powerful interests. 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). 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". Anecdotally, I can tell you that lately, all voters are becoming more and more polarized, and independent-registered voters tend to be less participatory in elections, especially local elections. You may also be responsible for buying the tools and equipment needed for your profession. You can feel free to vote for a third-party candidate without the guilt of betraying your party. STAR (Score Then Automatic Runoff) Voting. But voters are moving to care more about issues, rather than parties. Updated on June 03, 2021. Also, you might need to pay for your own tools and equipment as well as establish a federal and state tax ID number. But you should know there are a lot of local elections by which you could have a larger impact. I think that it will result in more completed forms coming in, and should reduce the confusion.. I'm registered currently as an independent. Another 22% have favorable opinions of both parties. Independent contractors must fund 100% of their Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, and retirement. 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: Vote blue no matter who. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main National Politics. Many of Sanders supporters felt his chances at the presidency had been smeared and interfered with by liberal media. For example, Republican-leaning independents are less supportive of Donald Trump than are Republican identifiers. 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. Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? 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. Possibly due to lack of enthusiasm in the political process. Independents who lean toward a party are usually on the same side as those who identify with the same party, but the level of agreement between leaners and partisans varies depending on the issue. Specifically the 'as legal' part. When voters changed the rules governing political primaries a ballot measure that emphasized party preference elections officials deleted the reference to party registration. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. By allowing candidates to see that theyre supported, even if theyre not the favorite, we encourage those candidates to run and express their opinions. Possessing a few fix-it and maintenance skills is liberating and cost-effective. QGIS automatic fill of the attribute table by expression. While 45% of Republicans and 51% of Democrats are under age 50, these shares rise to 55% among Republican-leaning independents and 68% among Democratic leaners. Being an independent contractor has its rewards, and whether it's worth it for you depends on the pros and cons. IRV does a better job of electing voters true favorite candidates than our current method and encourages more competition. With the 2020 election, we have begun to see more than two parties. 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. Given current state law, we did everything we could, he said. Yet independents who lean toward one of the two parties have a strong partisan imprint. The result is voter turnout rates of 72.3% and 77.2% respectively, which is 26-32% higher than the United States. "Frequently Asked Questions.". Join us as we discuss 3 pros and cons to being an independent person. 5. Remember, though, that these agencies may withhold taxes and collect other deductions from your paychecks, depending on your working relationship with the firm. . First off, you dont have to be pressured by one party or another to vote a specific way. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Trust in Media. 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. 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. New announcement, ASPSU president takes executive action to create financial relief, Guinness World Records oldest man dies at 112, On-Campus Events Calendar: April 25-May 1, Matthew N. Andrews and Andrew D. Jankowski, Movies go for the Olympics gold, so you dont have to. By comparison, 44% of Republican leaners and 33% of Republicans say the same. (For more on partisan identification over time, see the 2018 report Wide Gender Gap, Growing Educational Divide in Voters Party Identification.). At one point in 2015, more than a third of independents (36%) viewed both parties unfavorably. "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? 5Independents feel more negatively about political candidates and parties than partisans. Among Democratic-leaning independents, slightly more identify as moderates (45%) than as liberals (39%), while 14% are conservatives. While hospital or agency administrators might assign their case managers a list of patients to work with, independent case managers can choose their own client list based on their areas of specialty and . Part three of a multi-part series on voting methods. 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. Over the past two decades, Republicans and Democrats have come to view the opposing party more negatively. In my mind, I will always be fiercely independent, as my loyalty is to the principles, never to a party. 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. Among independents, men make up a sizable share (64%) of Republican leaners and a smaller majority (55%) of independents who do not lean. As an independent contractor, you're your own boss, meaning you have more control, but you also have more responsibility. John Steven Niznik writes about careers and other job-related topics. You can feel free to have your own political opinions and views that arent dictated and determined by a conglomerate of politicians. Just 7% of Americans decline to lean toward a party, a share that has changed little in recent years. 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. For this reason, it can be misleading to look at independents as a single bloc. But the best advice I can give is be engaged, know what you care about and vote as often as legal. Its an issue thats been lingering for years, said Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Unparalleled Support. Overall, independents are divided in preferences about the size of government and views about government regulation of business. 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. 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. The new form, while attempting to simplify the choice, still uses the 2011 phrase, I do not want to choose a political party preference. That may not be intuitive, some say, because non-party voters often prefer a party when it comes time to fill out the ballot they just dont want to be labeled. And now in September 2014 there was a public poll if there should have been a Scottish Independence. On D side, we have Clinton (and not Jessie Jackson) and Gore (and not Dean). This pattern holds for other offices as well: In views of candidates for president and local elections, independent leaners are consistently less likely than partisans to rate the quality of these candidates positively. Let's face it, no one could possibly agree with every aspect of either party at every turn. Among the 50 states, our children came in last in education. Since 2000, there have been sizable increases in the shares of both Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who identify as conservative. In addition, independents are more likely than partisans to have negative views of both major parties. 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. Financial. Consider David Davenport's con argument, including that other laws (governing activities such as driving, drinking, and smoking) have increased ages instead of lowering them based on the immaturity of teenagers. Its been shown to easily elect a good candidate and encourage competition. Does anyone have any studies or other sources which may demonstrate any positive effects for registered independent voters (such as encouraging more centralist tendencies), and, if so, does the research show whether this tendency is affected by whether the independent is in a swing state? "Fact Sheet 13: Employment Relationship Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Sure, sounds easy, but changing costumes 13 times in one day to get my 13 votes in is a lot more difficult than it seems! For those with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the rewards will be more than just monetary. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? An overwhelming majority of independents (81%) continue to lean toward either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. It shouldnt be about party allegiance. In both parties, the shares of partisan identifiers and leaners with unfavorable impressions of the opposition party are at or near all-time highs. Nearly six-in-ten Republican-leaning independents (59%), for example, currently favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally, compared with 37% among Republican identifiers. Voting has become a toxic act where people are told, "if you don't vote for our candidate, you don't belong to our party." Why should people have to vote for someone they don't believe in and don't support? 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? Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. It may have some flaws like lack of minority representation on the bench and perception of fairness. While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. However, there are some potential drawbacks about being self-employed to consider too.

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pros and cons of being an independent voter

pros and cons of being an independent voter

pros and cons of being an independent voter