Independent voters are the fastest growing voting demographic in the United States. As of the latest registration reports, there are approximately 28 million independent voters registered nationwide. The chart below includes the most recent available data for each state as of mid-January 2016.
Please note that some secretary of state offices do not regularly update this information and not every state offers the option of declaring party preference upon registration. Because of this, it is difficult to determine the exact number of independent voters in those states.
Please note that any information taken from this page must be properly attributed to the Independent Voter Project.
About The Independent Voter Project
The Independent Voter Project was founded in 2006 to provide voters with accurate and reliable information about important public policy issues and to encourage nonpartisan voters to vote and to participate in the democratic process.
Photo Credit: Joe Belanger / shutterstock.com
Join the discussion Please be relevant and respectful.
The IVN Etiquette: No Partisan Attacks, No Self-Promotion, Substantiate Claims, No Personal Attacks.
Learn More About IVN
There's a famous saying, "I can explain it to you but I can't comprehend it for you." I am not taking sides here; I just think it is a fun quote.
I don't lack understanding at all.
They need to PROVE their independence.
Your lack of understanding is not my fault.
That is nearly the most moronic thing you could have said.
True independents have no need of or use for political parties. An independent "party" is an oxymoron and defeats the very purpose of being independent.
Those that don`t VOTE independent are not deserving of being called independent.
They are that low because many of us Independents register under another party. Why? So we can actually vote in the primaries.
They are that low because many of us Independents register under another party. Why? So we can actually vote in the primaries. Now, when are Independents going to get a National party with Nominees and a convention like the Republicans and Democrats?
Whatever happened to the Centrists? It must be a dying breed unfortunately.
It is also important to note that in closed primary states like mine, Florida, if you are not registered as either a Dem or a Rep, you cannot vote, even in local elections, therefore, you can stand on principle or subject yourself to taxation without representation. Great choice!
Every registered voter in Florida can vote in the election itself. The real problem in Florida is the huge filing fee, 6% of the office's annual salary, which keeps people from running for office (except as write-ins) so that oodles of partisan offices have only one candidate running in the general election. Florida has twice the filing fee as the next highest state, Georgia. But no one in Florida ever seems to talk about that problem.
#Trump2016 OK! Republicans and Conservatives, the Trump Train is on the move to "Super Tuesday". It is your turn to bring in a Victory for Donald Trump. Every VOTE counts and we the people are making it happen. VOLUNTEER wherever and whenever you can. North Carolina, it will soon be our turn to VOTE. Can't wait. Spread the word. We will not let the Liberal Media WIN. Our Voices are being heard loud and clear. This time we are going to make it happen for the Republican Party and Donald Trump. We will not let him or our Country down.
Divide and Conquer,,,,what has this Republican controlled Congress done to help you and your family in the last 400+ days? Anything expected this year?
I am independent because I do no wish to be aligned with the idiots in both parties.
N/A is unacceptable IVN
Minnesota N/A, no surprise there. If it's DFL a tree strump would win.....
Kris Hughes, true. I was in Ohio. I'll change back after the election.
I am glad IVN did this work, but almost every entry above is out-of-date. For example, the California total shown above is from February 2015, even though there are statistics out for California for January 2016, eleven months later. The article says independents are the fastest growing segment, but that is not true. If one compares November 2014 to current data, Libertarians have increased at a higher rate than independents.
@RichardWinger There is a disclaimer that the data was retrieved in early January. The latest California report wasn't released until this month, and it also makes it clear that many states do not keep this information up to date. Trust me when I say the people who retrieved this data did their due diligence. Also, independents being the fastest growing segment of the voting population is looking nationally, who have far greater gains in actual number of voters.
@Shawn M Griffiths @RichardWinger Thanks for your reply. Can you help me find the disclaimer? I don't see it. Thanks again.
@RichardWinger @Shawn M Griffiths @RichardWinger "The chart below includes the most recent available data for each state as of mid-January 2016." And really, the research was completed more toward the beginning of January. Either way, before the more recent voter registration data was released by Padilla's office.
Also, it really depends on how you look at growth. Independents in California have had substantial growth over the last few years -- and yes so have the Libertarians (relatively speaking), but an increase of 1 to 2 is a 100% increase, right? NPP had an increase over the past 4 years of over half a million while Libertarians had an increase of over 27,000. NPP jumped almost 3 percentage points in the total number of registered voters. Libertarians jumped .15 of a point.
@Shawn M Griffiths @RichardWinger How can I get my voter registration chart to you? I think we are both interested in this topic and I would like to share. Thank you. I don't remember where I put your e-mail address. If I had it I could send you a pdf. Or if I knew a postal address for you I could postally mail it.
@RichardWinger @Shawn M Griffiths Just send it to editor@ivn.us. Thanks Richard!
Independent Voter...My IQ score of 111, and u?... 5Td0Dn9 \U0001f440 start now. ~~> http://goo.gl/lvb8jI ... Tks for this post: Do you know what state has the highest independent voter registration? (BTW: In more than 1 state, a MAJORITY of voters are registered independent)...
I think many people misunderstand why voters register as independents. That is, they think that it's primarily people who might be swing voters. However, I suspect a very high proportion are simply people who have no wish to identify with a party, even though they might never consider voting for one of the two main party's candidates. I can't imagine that I would ever vote for a GOP candidate, for example, but I still don't really want to count myself as a supporter of the Dems. I suppose I just keep hoping something better will come along.
I'm sure they would be higher in many states where people must be party registered to vote in primaries.
It is important to note that several states do not give voters an option to declare party preference when registering to vote. It makes it difficult to form a complete picture, but the total number of independents nationwide is actually much higher. http://ivn.us/2015/07/06/poll-independents-will-soon-outnumber-republicans-democrats-combined/
I have zero regard for these two political corporations. Partisan party politics have rendered our government untrustworthy and ineffective in doing the business of the country. Politics as usual has put our nation in a financial quagmire that enslaves hard working citizens and future generations for the foreseeable future. It is my sincerest hope that these two parties are dissolved, career politicians are put out of government, term limits are imposed, and corrupted officials are convicted and jailed (and not to country club prisons). It likely won't happen because Americans are brain washed sheep who believe that R and D are the only choices. These two party's aim to keep their power by exaggerating our differences and keep us divided.
I am surprised that the numbers are that low!
~ Go TRUMP for US & ASAP ~
And more and more are becoming independents all the time...
what about washington dc?
@samb In the District of Columbia, as of January 31, 2016, there were 72,499 independents out of a total of 438,373 voters.
It's amazing these states don't have a more standardized way of letting the public know what their numbers are.