Independent Voters Think for Themselves and Stay Out of Politics: 3 Essential Reads

The 2024 election is spotlighting independent voters, crucial yet elusive players in politics. Research indicates that defining their numbers and behaviors is complex. They’re distinct in their views, often grounded in personal experiences rather than party lines, and tend to be less politically active than those with party affiliations. As campaigns prepare, their ability to engage this group remains uncertain, posing challenges for candidates seeking to galvanize independent voters.

As the 2024 election approaches, much of the focus is shifting towards independent voters—those who do not align themselves with either the Republican or Democratic parties. This group, while anticipated to hold significant sway over election outcomes, remains shrouded in ambiguity. The Conversation U.S. has closely examined this phenomenon, shedding light on the characteristics and behaviors of independent voters as well as shedding some doubt on just how much we really know about them.

The question of how many independent voters exist, for starters, isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. According to Thom Reilly, a public affairs professor at Arizona State University, defining independent voters is a dilemma. Surveys tend to categorize respondents as Republicans, Democrats, or independents. However, many independents might feel some level of allegiance to one party, which clouds the distinction. As Reilly points out, “It’s possible that some voters identify as independent but really just have weaker political preferences than party die-hards.” This shifting political alignment could challenge the traditional two-party perspective that many take for granted.

In terms of how independent voters formulate their beliefs, they follow a fundamentally different approach compared to their partisan counterparts. Scholars Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz from the University of Maryland and Joshua J. Dyck from UMass Lowell specify that independence breeds a self-reliance in forming opinions; independents draw from their personal life experiences. Their research indicates that “for Democrats and Republicans, there is no relationship between where they live and their level of concern about gun violence.” In contrast, independents’ concerns, particularly in more dangerous neighborhoods, directly relate to their environment, making their political viewpoints deeply personal and localized.

Yet, it’s quite striking how independent voters often shy away from active political engagement. Julio Borquez, a political science expert at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, highlights that individuals who identify as pure independents are considerably less likely to vote than those who show even slight party affiliation. In the 2020 presidential election, turnout among pure independents lagged about 20 percentage points behind other voters. Borquez notes that many prefer to avoid partisan conflict, indicating a clear distaste for political labels, illustrated by their reactions to yard signs and campaign materials.

So, with the 2024 elections on the horizon, there’s a looming question: will these independent voters, characterized by their self-directed thinking and disengagement from party politics, choose to step up and vote? Their presence in elections may be scant, but when the vote is close, their influence could be profoundly impactful. The struggle for campaigns will be significant as they work to connect with this elusive group, whose preferences and behaviors seem to defy conventional political strategies. Only time will reveal if independents will leave their political solitude behind—or remain in the background once again.

Original Source: theconversation.com