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PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,493 posts)

81. Party registration doesn't really tell you much.

Thu Aug 30, 2018, 09:51 PM

Aug 2018

When I lived in Kansas a lot of Democrats I knew registered Republican so they could vote in the primary. I bet here in New Mexico a lot of Republicans register as Democrats for the same reason.

Then there are the states that either have no registration by party, or you can vote in whatever primary you wish, regardless of your registration.

When I was first voting I registered as an Independent because I quite frankly didn't want everyone knowing where my true feelings lay. In the past I have been known to vote for a Republican if I honestly thought that person was the better choice. That hasn't happened in quite a while now. Also, it's much more important for me to vote in primaries than it was in my youth, and I've always lived in states with closed primaries. Hence, my registration as a Democrat.

It is simplistic, perhaps ignorant to consider all Independents as cowardly, or really Republicans, or really Democrats. There are lots and lots of reasons a person will claim Independent status, and you don't automatically know anything about a person who claims such status.

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Serious question (not trying to bait anyone). What do you make of the rise of Independents? [View all] Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 OP

Well it's problematic in some ways and positive in other ways el_bryanto Aug 2018 #1

I would argue that the bigger issue is that it inforces polarization mythology Aug 2018 #16

I would say it's the other way around. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #58

I might agree except, for the last century or so, that's how it has worked rpannier Aug 2018 #87

No, they create the extreme candidates. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #98

Most so-called independents are highly partisan, and independents who support Democrats... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #90

I used to say I was an independent.... dawg day Aug 2018 #27

You're not alone. That's a big reason why people call themselves "independent." Garrett78 Aug 2018 #91

It's not that they seen no difference between parties marylandblue Aug 2018 #2

Of course it goes beyond that as well. If non voter was a candidate in 2016, non voter would... Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #6

They don't want to commit but they sure want to vote in primaries to pick the candidates. brush Aug 2018 #39

democratically voting on candidates is a bad thing? who knew? shanny Aug 2018 #70

Who knew allowing repugs to vote on who Democratic candidates are was a good thing? brush Aug 2018 #83

That would describe me. JayhawkSD Aug 2018 #59

Most of them align very strongly with one party or the other. But they also tend to be... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #92

Cowards. honest.abe Aug 2018 #3

Most of them have very much picked a side. Garrett78 Aug 2018 #93

Its the "admitting" part that makes them cowards. honest.abe Aug 2018 #97

Exactly. nt SunSeeker Aug 2018 #106

Rise of independents or simply a whole NoMoreRepugs Aug 2018 #4

I understand apathy. Don't respect it but I undrstand it. Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #13

We have automatic registration in OR marlakay Aug 2018 #43

I'm thinking its the people mostly uninspired by the parties. nt shanny Aug 2018 #71

Republicans who are ashamed of being Republican. C_U_L8R Aug 2018 #5

Repubs ashamed of Trump Funtatlaguy Aug 2018 #7

My right wing brother in law takes offense when you call him a republican. He's an Independent! Cousin Dupree Aug 2018 #12

"I'm no Republican, I'm a Conservative!" Mariana Aug 2018 #78

They still don't want to pay taxes for the common good C_U_L8R Aug 2018 #21

By and large Cosmocat Aug 2018 #49

And Democrats embarassed to be known as Democrats LiberalLovinLug Aug 2018 #101

I think it is similar to millenial females supporting equal rights but denying support for "feminism hlthe2b Aug 2018 #8

It says to me that they are not happy shanny Aug 2018 #9

They are ashamed of both parties MaryMagdaline Aug 2018 #10

One thing that I have been told by young people that I know is that Autumn Aug 2018 #11

This is the feedback I find most worrisome n/t Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #15

and there you have it nt shanny Aug 2018 #72

*Is there* a rise of Independents? Recursion Aug 2018 #14

The 21st century is still rather "young". 40% is historically high Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #17

Because consumerism has taken over democracy. People look at voting as an act of self-expression. Recursion Aug 2018 #24

very good analysis +++++++ JHan Aug 2018 #44

Your spot on ZeroSomeBrains Aug 2018 #68

I find the Rank Choice Voting method of selecting candidates interesting. Keeping an eye on Maine. Snotcicles Aug 2018 #18

I like it. shanny Aug 2018 #73

It's something we need to be aware of and seriously take into account. RDANGELO Aug 2018 #19

Propaganda from both parties is working and this trend will continue with the 24 hr news cycle... NCTraveler Aug 2018 #20

Yep OriginalGeek Aug 2018 #37

The right wing propoganda has been three pronged my entire adult life Cosmocat Aug 2018 #50

"...a socialist party that want (sic) everything for free and supports violent groups like ANTIFA." shanny Aug 2018 #74

I'm pretty sure you misread something. Nt NCTraveler Aug 2018 #75

My apologies. nt shanny Aug 2018 #76

No problem at all. NCTraveler Aug 2018 #77

The term "Independent" doesn't embrace any ideology, it only rejects. Towlie Aug 2018 #22

they're strange to me. JHan Aug 2018 #23

Thanks for those specific insights Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #25

I've never felt unwelcome but I agree that there's always room for improvement. JHan Aug 2018 #35

Exactly! It's a vanity label. A way to say "look at me" and to suggest to others... NurseJackie Aug 2018 #26

Vanity yes but more accurately I think, consumerization of politics. JHan Aug 2018 #30

Proud grandmother of a 19 yr old Democrat. secondwind Aug 2018 #28

I Suppose It Depends On How You Define Independent ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #29

The research indicates there are very few true swingers DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2018 #31

Yup! IF they vote. Many don't every election. KPN Aug 2018 #66

What do I make of an increase in the number of independents? To me it suggests that the Nitram Aug 2018 #32

I've known several, and they're a mixed bag. moriah Aug 2018 #33

Thanks for writing such a detalled survey summary Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #46

"Vote Republican when we need a war won"? PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2018 #80

He had some interesting opinions about WWII from being stateside during it. moriah Aug 2018 #82

Fwiw, a Democrat was President shanny Aug 2018 #94

I am technically Independent. I vote in Democratic Primaries and other elections Freethinker65 Aug 2018 #34

I am an unenrolled voter (unaffiliated) who is loyal to the Democratic Party. seaglass Aug 2018 #36

Honestly, I think both parties failed them in some way. Oneironaut Aug 2018 #38

There is no such thing as an "Independent" voter leftofcool Aug 2018 #40

To me, Independent" Turbineguy Aug 2018 #41

LOL @ Agnostics. Iggo Aug 2018 #42

Dissatisfaction with the duopoly? moondust Aug 2018 #45

Thanks to all who shared opinions on this here Tom Rinaldo Aug 2018 #47

"Most independents are just partisans who are turned off by partisanship." Garrett78 Aug 2018 #48

I hear this. BlueWI Sep 2018 #107

Some poeple will state they they believe that both major parties are the same. guillaumeb Aug 2018 #51

I agree. That's exactly what I hear from folks who say they are Independent. They don't trust KPN Aug 2018 #67

My own feeling is that those who say that both aprties are the same... guillaumeb Aug 2018 #79

Yeah, that's kind of a "duh!" for me. At the same time, KPN Aug 2018 #85

I think the older ones are ashamed to say they are Republicans & the younger ones don't know enough Hekate Aug 2018 #52

are independents less likely to participate in primaries? AlexSFCA Aug 2018 #53

Ind is a pitstop for those on the road to switching parties DeminPennswoods Aug 2018 #54

That's what it was for me. Republican to Independent, then Democrat. SharonAnn Aug 2018 #104

For me as well DeminPennswoods Aug 2018 #105

In Many Ways It's Another Manifestation of "Bothsiderism" dlk Aug 2018 #55

I do it hoping to get solicitations from the GOP Chakaconcarne Aug 2018 #56

I'm not sure that's the right question leftstreet Aug 2018 #57

From and ex-Dem SeloverB Aug 2018 #60

Honest answer. Now some honest questions: why are you still here at DU? why have you KPN Aug 2018 #65

It's a question with an economic answer bucolic_frolic Aug 2018 #61

Because Americans are obsessed with individualism. betsuni Aug 2018 #62

Republican Party is unpopular but Democratic Party is not particularly popular Awsi Dooger Aug 2018 #63

It's inevitable, as the 2 major parties move to their respective more extreme corners. Honeycombe8 Aug 2018 #64

Shame recentevents Aug 2018 #69

Party registration doesn't really tell you much. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2018 #81

Lots of people abandoning the GOP RainCaster Aug 2018 #84

Party affiliation is holding pretty darn steady actually. Garrett78 Aug 2018 #86

The Republicans are repellant to all but 30% or so autorank Aug 2018 #88

The first half of my 78 years I was a non-voter. OxQQme Aug 2018 #89

This is a great thread, thank you SkyDancer Aug 2018 #95

I think it's people voting their values and not labels. Vinca Aug 2018 #96

The percentage of independents has held pretty steady and the incumbent re-election... Garrett78 Aug 2018 #102

I'm an independent Answerman Aug 2018 #99

Can't admit that Dems have the good ideas SMoss Aug 2018 #100

I can't answer for all, I just know of one example. bluescribbler Aug 2018 #103

Younger people have less interest in politics, IMO. Progressive dog Sep 2018 #108

serious indeed! bigbadR Sep 2018 #109

I think youre seeing a problem where none exists - many states like mine dont require registration Kashkakat v.2.0 Sep 2018 #110