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. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main How well do you collaborate with others? 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. However I live in Maryland, which has closed primaries for both parties and the state will always vote Democrat for presidential elections; which leaves me feeling that being an independent removes my voice. 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%). Again anecdotally, the independent vote in Florida tends to either lean Libertarian, or strongly leftist-progressive. Among those who affiliate with the Republican Party, the margin is nearly eight-to-one (87% to 11%). It allows you to take on challenges you'd otherwise pass by. 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. National Politics. If you really want to be more independent, and have the opportunity for a lot of . Bernie Sanders was a Democrat in name only. In my mind, I will always be fiercely independent, as my loyalty is to the principles, never to a party. We recommend working with a top FMO like Ritter Insurance Marketing to help you get started on the right path. You won't get hit by lightning. But as experts in this field, weve developed a short list of criteria that we find to be critical for any voting method. Having candidates that represent other political parties outside Republican and Democrat increases voter choice. Among independents, men make up a sizable share (64%) of Republican leaners and a smaller majority (55%) of independents who do not lean. And now in September 2014 there was a public poll if there should have been a Scottish Independence. . rev2023.4.21.43403. 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. Learn more about us. People who blindly toe party lines (my party, right or wrong) are the biggest kind of idiots in the country. On most issues, independents attitudes mirror the views of the overall public. 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. Also, you might need to pay for your own tools and equipment as well as establish a federal and state tax ID number. And greater diversity of candidates running means more choice for voters. The Pros and Cons of Being an Independent Consultant 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. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Read parts one and two. Hea, PSU rearms campus police officers 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. Lowering the Voting Age - Top 3 Pros and Cons - ProCon.org 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. 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. The share of Americans who have a positive view of one party and a negative view of the other has increased since 2015 (from 58%). 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. ", Internal Revenue Service. First off, you dont have to be pressured by one party or another to vote a specific way. Currently, 62% of the public says the use of marijuana should be made legal, while 34% say it should be illegal. The drawbacks to being an independent contractor include more responsibility. Independents stand out from partisans in several important ways. A majority of those who identify as Republicans (55%) say immigrants burden the country. 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. You shouldnt be goaded into voting for someone who you dont believe supports your politics. 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 a wide margin (62% to 36%), independents oppose Trumps signature policy proposal, an expansion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. Californians have until May 21 to register for the June 5 statewide primary. 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). But those who leaned toward the parties were much less likely to say this. As you can see, each alternative voting method has its strengths and weaknesses, and none is perfect. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. Progressives and independents are told a vote for the third party is a vote for Trump, or any other Republican or majority candidate. IRV does a better job of electing voters true favorite candidates than our current method and encourages more competition. And sure, there may be times where we are sent on by ourselves to face some things alone to build our character. (For more on partisan identification over time, see the 2018 report Wide Gender Gap, Growing Educational Divide in Voters Party Identification.). Independent contractors must fund 100% of their Medicare and Social Security taxes, health insurance, and retirement. I've also been engaged in Democratic party politics and legislative work for the last decade. 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. Here are the basic pros and cons of becoming an independent contractor.#. Independents often are portrayed as political free agents with the potential to alleviate the nations rigid partisan divisions. 3. Two-thirds of Americans (66%) view one party favorably while expressing an unfavorable opinion of the other party. 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%). The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Democratic-leaning independents overwhelmingly oppose the border wall (95% disapprove), as do Democratic identifiers (92%). 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 . The forms are widely distributed in state and local government offices and through volunteer voter registration drives. Advantages & Disadvantages of a Third Party - Synonym Captive vs. Independent: Which Is the Right Path for You? 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). 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. sexual assault allegations against Biden by former aide Tara Reade. The concept that not voting is a vote for the other candidate is largely untrue. 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. . 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. Which party actually caused the 2016 presidential election swing? Being an independent contractor has its rewards, and whether it's worth it for you depends on the pros and cons. 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. Your email address will not be published. Why don't Democrat or Republican partisans register and vote in swing states? This is part of an overall process to modernize the elections process, Logan said. Well, that depends on who you ask and what criteria theyre using. He also wrote a weekly newsletter on California politics and provided regular news analysis. I spend a lot of time talking to people across the country about our work at The Center for Election Science to strengthen democracy. 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? About one-in-five (17%) feel unfavorably toward both parties, while 12% feel favorably toward both. Politics is about choice, change and personal opinion. @user4012 um not sure I understand your first comment. 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. It shouldnt be about party allegiance. 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. Here are six advantages to being an independent case manager: 1. Public support for same-sex marriage has grown rapidly over the past decade. But the best advice I can give is be engaged, know what you care about and vote as often as legal. 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. A combination of issues prompted us to see if there was a better way, Padilla said. Why should they have to vote for anyone? QGIS automatic fill of the attribute table by expression. 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. The views of GOP leaners are nearly identical to the opinions of those who affiliate with the GOP (74% prefer smaller government). Other advantages may be longer-term or larger scale. As an independent contractor, you're your own boss, meaning you have more control, but you also have more responsibility. 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. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 5Independents feel more negatively about political candidates and parties than partisans. 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'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. However, being an independent contractor can come with more responsibility. 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. 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. 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. So I'm wondering if there is an advantage to staying true to my actual political views and staying an independent, as opposed to picking one side at random to register as so I can have some sort of say in presidential elections via voting in the primaries. [ 8][ 15] A holiday for elections sidesteps the issue of a weekend election, which could conflict with religious obligations. In July 2015, just 44% of GOP leaners had a favorable opinion of the Republican Party; 47% had an unfavorable view of both parties. It is too late for 2016. 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. Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. "Self-Employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes). 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. Republican-leaning independents favor expanding the border wall, though by a smaller margin than Republicans identifiers. By comparison, 44% of Republican leaners and 33% of Republicans say the same. Who's to say that politicians won't one day decide that the average voter doesn't know what's best for them and elect a candidate who clearly does not represent the choice of the people? 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%). Sanders had been pegged by many Democratic voters as too socialist, loud and abrasive, along with many other words. Become a newsletter subscriber to stay up-to-date on the latest Giving Compass news. Join us as we discuss 3 pros and cons to being an independent person. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? How is white allowed to castle 0-0-0 in this position? But what about the large share of Americans who identify as independents? And yes, vote early, vote often. Do you consider yourself independent person? Are there any other pros to being independent? Being an independent contractor comes with a variety of benefits, including flexibility, autonomy and tax deductions for business expenses. 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? For the past three years, the number of voters registering or re-registering as independent has. First, a pragmatic argument: an Independent candidate has rejected the advantages of being part of an established infrastructure and support network. In 2017, 85% of those who identify as Republicans approved of Trumps job performance, based on an average of Pew Research Center surveys. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. They are giving up voting on who gets to represent each party at all. 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? 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. 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. Among the 50 states, our children came in last in education. 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. George Wallace. Independents views of same-sex-marriage were similar to Democrats: 73% of Democrats favored gay marriage, as did 70% of independents. Like other professions, being an independent consultant is one great roller coaster ride, with its many highs, lows, twists and turns. Alexander praised officials for the new registration card because it embraces the plain language movement in election materials. Independent contractors are sometimes called ICs, consultants, freelancers, free agents, or contractors. 1 Nearly four-in-ten U.S. adults (38%) identify as politically independent, but most "lean" toward one of the two major parties. Nearly 40 percent of voters in the United States identify as independent, yet there are only four independents serving in Congress. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? 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 because of the party they belong to. 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. We connect donors to learning resources and ways to support community-led solutions. Striking out on your own can be both risky and rewarding. In an interview, Padilla said additional clarity would have to come from the California Legislature. R primaries selected Romney, McCain, and Reagan, not Cain, Keyes/Huckabee or Robertson. Pros of Independence Self-confidence. 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. But that was the first time it was really in the spotlight.. 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. 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. The same trend is evident among independents who lean toward a party. 4. Like Democrats, most Democratic-leaning independents prefer bigger government. 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. 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 . Thus the only way to win the primaries is to be the most Democratic or Republican you can be; not to moderate your platform. Given current state law, we did everything we could, he said. However, there are some potential drawbacks about being self-employed to consider too. Still, the share of independents who view both parties negatively has declined in recent years.