1.3 Independent Voters

1. What is the general understanding of the term "independent voter”? Many people call themselves independent voters to feel special. A special definition of an independent is a person who does not affiliate with the Democratic or Republican Party. However, an independent is anyone who says she is an independent. 

2. How do these researchers characterize voters who call themselves independent?

Independents are nothing more than partisans in disguise.

3. How do independent political preferences compare to those of democrats and republicans?Political scientists often find that independents have political preferences that are almost identical to their counterparts. 

4. What are "leaners"?   How are leaners different from party members? Leaners are those who identify as independent but still lean a certain way. It blurs the definition of being an independent. Political scientists consider then partisans in hiding rather than actually independents. 

5. What % of Americans call themselves independent?  Democrats?  Republicans?

42% call themselves independent, 29% Democrat, and 26% Republican. 

6. What % of Americans actually don't lean towards one of the parties? Out of the 42% who call themselves independent, only 13% are actually independent. 

7. Why are people likely to call themselves independent instead of identifying themselves with a party? Some people don’t want to present themselves  as “aggressive or stubborn” as many party activists seem. Independents appear calm and reasonable and trustworthy, because people think they are unbiased and have no aggressive standpoint. 

8. What prevents independents from forming a real third party challenge to democrats & republicans?For this to happen, two things must occur: first, people must truly believe that neither party can accurately represent them. They also must have to have coherent similar interests for them to choose a candidate. However some are more liberal, others conservative. 

9. Why don't independents actually impacct the outcome of elections that much? They are rarely real independents. Once they decide on a candidate it is hard to sway them from it. Besides, if they voted for the candidate, it would seem like they were part of that party all along. 

10. How are moderate voters different than "independents”? Moderates can be those who place themselves in the middle of the continuum. They can be moderate conservative or moderate liberal. And independents are not moderate at all, while moderates associate themselves with a party. 

11. How are "swing voters" and "undecided voters" different?Swing voters are usually undecided. They can be swayed either way. They aren’t independent or moderate, really, they can be manipulated. Undecided voters usually wait till the last minute to make their decision because they have no clue who they want to vote for until the last minute.