Lets talk about the "independent" voter

[mdmc]

In NYS, the "reform" party, the party of Ross Perot, opted to name itself the "Independence Party". Most people that are enrolled in this party thought that they were not enrolling in a party. They thought they would be "independent". The choice to register to vote while not enrolling in a party is called "I do not want to join a political party" aka "blank". If a voter checks the "I don't wish to join a political party" or fails to check of a political party, they are "blanks" or independents.
The NYS Independence Party chose this name to trick people to join their party. It worked. It is the third largest party in the state.

The NYS Independence Party basically has four factions: 1)GOP voters that want to win and have taken over this party line to win elections. 2)Ron Paul types - "Libertarians". 3) People that want to vote but think that the two party system is fucked up or hate both major corporate parties. 4) People that want to vote for the winner.

Generally, whoever wins the Independence Party Line in NYS wins the election. The party will almost always cross endorse the incumbent and generally the votes on the Independence Line wins the election for the victor.

I had posted a thread on DU a while back suggesting that the Dems work to take over this party line. Incumbent Dems get the line anyway (cause they will win the election). So why not join the party to help ensure that the electable dem candidate challenging an incumbent (or vying for an empty position) will get the extra votes that this third party almost always gets? That thread got locked.

"Independence" Party voters are very different then "independent" voters.

Many things drive people to be independent voters.

1.They registered to vote because someone they know or like is running for office. They don't care about politics, but a race caught their attention.
2.They have it made. They got theirs, and could care less who is calling the shots. It is all good to them.
3.They think politicians are shit. They won't join a political party and think that they will be fucked whoever wins (opposite of #2).
4.They want to vote for "the winner". They don't care what the outcome is, as long as they are on the winning side.

Anyone out there know any other reasons that a voter would chose to be "independent" of political party membership?

[NYC_SKP]

1. Right here, mdmc...

3) People that want to vote but think that the two party system is fucked up or hate both major corporate parties.

To many voters, many positions taken by major figures in the two parties look the same.

Hillary voted for the IWR, Bill for NAFTA, for example, and they both lost me right there.

If the Democratic Party over time becomes too much like the Republican party, I don't doubt that many DU members would consider forming or joining a new third party, a progressive party that held to traditional Dem values.

After all, if it's Democratic in name only, why bother?

[Captain Angry]

2. What does party membership get you?

I am registered independent. As a wise man said, I'd never join a party that would have me as a member.

But seriously, there are too many that pick a side, rail against the opponent while using the tactics they accuse their opponents of using.


What benefit would party membership offer? More mail? Solicitations for donations from people who would never speak to me in public and have indefensible positions on many issues?

[mdmc]

3. In NYS you would get to vote in the parties primary

:shrug:

[Pastiche423]

4. Not everyone lives in NYS

So what benefit is there for anyone in the other forty nine states?

[mdmc]

5. I think that many states allow cross endorsement of candidates

Many states (perhaps most states) allow a candidate for office to secure more than one party line when running for public office.

Many states have closed primaries (only party members are allowed to vote in the party primary).

Where I live in NY, for instance, is dominated by the GOP. When Dems are elected to office they almost always have secured their victory with votes cast for them on third party lines.

An election tally could look something like this -
Bobby Democrat (D)
(votes cast for Bobby Democrat on the DEMOCRATIC PARTY LINE) = 75
(votes cast for Bobby Democrat on the INDEPENDENCE PARTY LINE)=25
(votes cast for Bobby Democrat on the WORKING FAMILY LINE)= 2
TOTAL VOTES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE = 102
Richard M. Republican (R)
(votes cast for Richard M. Republican on the Republican line) = 90
(votes cast for Richard M. Republican on the Conservative line) = 5
(votes cast for Richard M. Republican on the Right to Life line) = 5
TOTAL VOTES FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE = 100

In this scenario the Dem wins with votes cast on a third party line.

Cross endorsement allows a candidate to build a large coalition of support. The RTL (right to life) party won't endorse a pro-choice republican. The WFP (working families party) won't endorse a conservative Democrat.
I've seen Democrats secure the conservative line. I've seen republicans secure the WFP line. It helps show what the candidate is all about.

I assume this is not allowed in the state that you vote in?

[Pastiche423]

6. My question to you

was, what benefit is there for anyone in the other forty nine states (to be registered w/the Democratic party)?

[mdmc]

7. I can see at least two benefits of being registered as a democrat

1- For the most part, either your party (the democratic party) will win or place second in just about every election.
2- You will be eligible to vote in the party primary.

Other than that there really is no other benefit except perhaps as a networking tool

[Pastiche423]

10. In my state and I know in others

you can register to vote w/a party before the primary, then re-register afterward. That's what I did this year. I wanted to vote in senatorial primary, so I re-registered as a Democrat. Unfortunately, my guy did not win, but he got my vote! Next month I will re-register as Unaffiliated ("OTH" in my state).

So that knocks out your reason #2.

Your reason #1 makes no sense.

[mdmc]

11. In "open" states like yours I guess that there is no reason to be in the party

unless you want to have some say in what the party is doing.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. I've been a registered Democrat since 1965 but vote as an independent.

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." --Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." --Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

[uppityperson]

9. I know people who are ashamed to say they are repubs, scared to say they are dems

so they call themselves independents. But they vote repub.