pros and cons of being an independent voter

Join us as we discuss 3 pros and cons to being an independent person. The tendency of my state's voting doesn't really have anything to do with my independent views? 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. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! 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. Independents views of same-sex-marriage were similar to Democrats: 73% of Democrats favored gay marriage, as did 70% of independents. I vote out of civic obligation only and am not that offended by not participating; but at the same time if I could better serve my civil obligations by choosing a political party (with a coin flip) I would do so. Majorities of both Democrats (69%) and independents (68%) favor legalizing marijuana; Republicans are divided, with 45% supportive of legalization and 51% opposed. Prior to 2008, Californians who wanted to opt out of choosing a party had to search for the option at the bottom of a list labeled, Political party fill in one oval. That years revision resulted in a form that allowed a mark to placed next to a new statement reading, I dont want to register with a political party.. In an interview, Padilla said additional clarity would have to come from the California Legislature. By comparison, only about one-in-ten partisans view both parties negatively. 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. Democratic-leaning independents are younger than other independents or partisans. In a two-party system, it is not surprising that most Americans view their own party favorably while viewing the opposing party unfavorably. National Politics. Politics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people interested in governments, policies, and political processes. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Among other things, it illustrated that independents have lower levels of political participation and are demographically different from those who affiliate with a party and that their views are often as divided as those of self-identified partisans. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. When Senator Bernie Sanders dropped out of the 2020 United States Presidential Race on April 8, the fallout was palpable, especially among those who identify as independent. Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. 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. Here are six advantages to being an independent case manager: 1. It's important when considering independent contract work to understand the pros and cons of working as an independent contractor. TAKE OU, OP: Why wont PSU accept food stamps? Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. 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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The concept that not voting is a vote for the other candidate is largely untrue. Just as an FYI, I live in Florida and we also have closed elections. About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. , many on the left rallied against Biden being the Democratic candidate. A majority of those who identify as Republicans (55%) say immigrants burden the country. . If you are Republican, you don't have to choose between being a regular or Tea Party Republican. Firstly because of the restriction on voting in primaries. 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. So how do we decide which is best? Support for same-sex marriage was higher among Democratic-leaning independents than among Democrats (82% vs. 73%). Independent contractors must fund 100% of their Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, and retirement. Voters from all walks of life including celebrities, business leaders and the spouses of candidates said they incorrectly filled out the forms. Explore each state's voter registration age requirements at USA.gov. In 2017, 85% of those who identify as Republicans approved of Trumps job performance, based on an average of Pew Research Center surveys. While Californias top-two primary has made state and congressional elections open to all voters thus muting the impact of registration mistakes presidential primaries still limit participation based on a voters affiliation. What were really asking is How happy are voters with the chosen winner?. Another con of being registered as an Independent is that people feel they have less of if no voice. 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. Trumps job rating among independents for his first two years in office also was lower than his recent predecessors; his average job rating among independents was 34% in both 2017 and 2018. Possessing a few fix-it and maintenance skills is liberating and cost-effective. Zip Recruiters puts the average pay for independent insurance agents at a heartier $97,996. The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. Those changes include a new law that will allow voters to register and make changes to their partisan affiliation on election day. 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. But, it can be costly for cities with older voting machines to implement and can lead to unexpected results in tight races. In contrast to Republicans, Republican-leaning independents favored same-sex marriage (58% were in favor, 37% were opposed). And while men account for about half of Republicans (51%) and four-in-ten Democrats (40%), they account for 64% of Republican leaners and 51% of Democratic leaners. Just 11% of independents who do not lean to a party view the Democratic Party favorably, while about as many (9%) have a favorable view of the GOP. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA Other primary election types include: 1) open primaries, in which a voter either does not have to formally affiliate with a political party in order to vote in its primary or can declare his or her . It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. 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). In early 2018, similar shares of Republicans (77%) and Democrats (74%) said the quality of candidates running for Congress in their district in the last several elections had been good. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. Many of Sanders supporters felt his chances at the presidency had been smeared and interfered with by liberal media. Only 7% of Americans overall dont express a partisan leaning, while 13% lean toward the Republican Party and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. 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. Politics is more than just beating the other candidate. Being an independent contractor has its rewards, and whether it's worth it for you depends on the pros and cons. But there are dozens of voting methods out there. A combination of issues prompted us to see if there was a better way, Padilla said. First off, you dont have to be pressured by one party or another to vote a specific way. 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. There are some issues on which partisan leaners especially those who lean toward the GOP differ substantially from partisans. 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. The views of GOP leaners are nearly identical to the opinions of those who affiliate with the GOP (74% prefer smaller government). Read parts one and two. For this reason, it can be misleading to look at independents as a single bloc. When youre starting, apply to agencies that can connect you with contract work. And, thanks to a recent Morrison Institute study, more is known about Arizona independents than in any other state. Opinions among Democrats and Democratic leaners are nearly the mirror image: 88% of Democrats and 84% of Democratic leaners view the GOP unfavorably. There is no stigma to being independent. On D side, we have Clinton (and not Jessie Jackson) and Gore (and not Dean). 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. The same trend is evident among independents who lean toward a party. Democratic leaners include roughly equal shares of men (51%) and women (49%). This is an update of a post originally published July 5, 2016, and written by Samantha Smith, a former research assistant at Pew Research Center. For example, Republican-leaning independents are less supportive of Donald Trump than are Republican identifiers. Only about a quarter of non-leaners approved of Trumps job performance during his first two years, while about six-in-ten (58%) disapproved. 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). 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? On most issues, independents attitudes mirror the views of the overall public. We also want the method to be simple to implement. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Independents who lean toward a party are less likely than partisans to view their party favorably. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. Currently, 62% of the public says the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 34% say it should be illegal. First, a pragmatic argument: an Independent candidate has rejected the advantages of being part of an established infrastructure and support network. In the next part of our series, well share more about what The Center for Election Science see as the best solution, and how can you help make that a reality. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. While its true change happens slowly, we can make that change by being willing to stand up for the working lower class. George Wallace. Are Democratic voters more firm in their voting preferences? Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? After Sanders suspension, online forums and social media exploded with political disagreement. Ability to choose clients. For those with a creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the rewards will be more than just monetary. For this governor's race, consider being independent of party. That's a dramatic shift from just two decades ago, when only 12 percent of Florida voters were neither Republican nor Democrat. density matrix. 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. ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Presidential battleground states consider more election funding, Montana latest to ban hormone treatment and other care for transgender minors, Florida Republicans pass bill that would allow DeSantis to run for president while governor, At rape lawsuit trial, Trump lawyer questions why E. Jean Carroll didnt scream, North Carolina justices hand Republicans big win with election rulings. GOP leaners are divided: 49% say the system is generally fair, while nearly as many (46%) say it unfairly favors powerful interests. How do I stop the Flickering on Mode 13h? . For the past three years, the number of voters registering or re-registering as independent has. Required fields are marked *. 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 a survey conducted last fall, shortly after the midterm elections, partisan leaners were less likely than partisans to say they registered to vote and voted in the congressional elections. Why does Acts not mention the deaths of Peter and Paul? Do you consider yourself independent person? People who blindly toe party lines (my party, right or wrong) are the biggest kind of idiots in the country. Statistically, it doesnt even make sense. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Obamas average rating was 50% during his first year (2009); it fell to 42% in his second year. Why should they have to vote for anyone? 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%). But it doesnt have to be this way. Is there a generic term for these trajectories? While that may cut down on contacts from campaigns that are only using government-supplied voter data, larger/more sophisticated campaigns can use. 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. On taxes, two-thirds of GOP leaners approve of the tax law, while an identical share of Democratic leaners disapprove. However, all are better than our current voting method, which is why organizations around the country are working hard to see these methods adopted. "Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee? It's very empowering to have the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wherewithal to look after yourself. In fact, just a third said they voted in the midterms. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for insurance agents was over $52,000 in 2020. But as experts in this field, weve developed a short list of criteria that we find to be critical for any voting method. Being an independent contractor can be rewarding since it offers you the ability to be your own boss, choose which clients to work for, and allow you to work from home. Today, more Republican-leaning independents describe themselves as conservatives (51%) than as moderates (39%) or liberals (8%). 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. 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. A newer method, STAR, allows voters to score each candidate on a scale and then the two candidates with the highest scores enter an automatic runoff, with voters ballots cast to whichever candidate they scored highest. I had thought at one time that independents represented the swing vote either side needed to win, and as the 'king maker' in elections we would thus be the ones that had to be courted and listen to by politicians. It also hasnt been implemented in an election yet, so some questions about implementation remain. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Want to read more content like this? But you can also vote for nobody, because, again, nobodys stopping you.

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