With the growing number of independent voters, now accounting for 21 percent of registered voters in California, this year’s election highlights the rise of the independent voter, with a handful of independent candidates running for office throughout the state of California.

Since the passage of Prop 14 in 2010, this election signifies California’s first experience with the new open primary system. Former State Assemblyman, Senator and co-founder of the Independent Voter Project Steve Peace spoke on NBC 7′s “Politically Speaking” last month and explained the nature of California’s new open primary system and it’s influence on independent voters:

“All the candidates and campaigns (except for president) will have independent candidates on the ballot in the June election. Everybody will be able to vote for any candidate; it doesn’t matter what your party registration is, you vote for whoever you think the best candidate is and then the top two vote getters in June move on and go to the runoff in November.”

The races surrounding the 80 State Assembly seats up for grabs this year in California promise to be equally exciting. Under the newly drawn district lines, 35 of these seats are currently open with no sitting incumbent.

The top two vote-getters on June 5^th, regardless of party, will advance to a runoff in November. Due to California’s political makeup, there are several districts where Decline to State voters will help candidates pave the path to victory in the state’s first ever “open primary”.

We will follow all the California State Assembly races where the Independent vote will be decisive.

Not only will this be the first time Decline to State voters, a whopping 21.3% of the state’s electorate, have a say in which candidates make the November runoff- DTS voters are likely to cast the deciding vote in several newly redrawn districts throughout the Golden State.

California’s Legislature is slated for a major turnover, 80 state assembly seats (35 of them open), and 20 odd-numbered state senate seats are all up for election. The results from 2012 could very well shape the state’s political landscape for years to come.

IVN.us will follow the California State Senate races where Independent voters could really make a difference.