Watch a panel of independent voters (including Independent Voting Board Member Dr. Jessie Fields, Sue Davies of New Jersey Independent Voters, and Daniel Battista of Baruch College, Civics Unplugged) express their dissatisfaction with the hyper-partisan impeachment process on a segment from Fox News.
In a recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jackie Salit, one of several political experts interviewed, speaks with journalist Rory Appleton on how partisan campaigns try to appeal to the growing number of independents across the country but fail to recognize a greater shift away from party loyalty.
“People are more and more making the link between the hyper-partisanship of politics and the dysfunction of government,” Salit said. “That is very, very troubling to people. And the more people who make that link, the more the parties are being held accountable.”
Jane Kleeb was an honoree at the 19th Annual Anti-Corruption Awards sponsored by Independent Voting and held in lower Manhattan on October 25th. Over one hundred guests attended. Jane is the Democratic Party State Chair of Nebraska. In 2019, she was a champion for the inclusion of independents in the 2020 presidential primary and under her leadership, her state party created a binding open presidential primary, in which independents are welcome. At the request of Independent Voting, Jane went beyond Nebraska and lobbied fellow Democratic state party leaders in other states to open their primaries. Jane was unable to leave Nebraska to be be at the Anti-Corruption Awards in NYC , but sent this video acceptance speech which was played at the event.
Attorneys Harry Kresky (Independent Voting), Jeremy Gruber (Open Primaries and Michael Hardy (National Action Network) authored an important article appearing in this month’s Touro Law Review. Click here to read the article in full.
Excerpt: “… the legal status of unaffiliated voters must be engaged by our courts if we are to be true to the best traditions of American justice. Unaffiliated voters are treated as second class citizens. This Article has, we hope, demonstrated that the right of unaffiliated voters to vote, and to what are now closed primaries, is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person and her rights to freedom of speech and association under the First Amendment, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. This Article has, we hope,demonstrated that in the field of voting the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place. Segregating unaffiliated voters, preventing them from meaningful participation in the primaries, is inherently unequal and deprives them of what is due them under the Constitution.”
Since Howard Schultz’s announcement, and the sudden surge of spoiler propaganda, much has been made of the 1992 independent presidential campaign of Ross Perot who, it is frequently asserted, “cost” George H.W. Bush his re-election. Take a few minutes to look at the 10 minute mini-documentary created by Five-Thirty-Eight titled “The Perot Myth,” which chronicles the fallacy of that spoiler myth. Perot actually pulled equally from Republican and Democrat voters.
Let us not forget that Perot was under attack from multiple sides as soon as he started showing in the polls. These attacks persisted into his second run in 1996, when the tactic of his candidacy became to promote an all-independents primary and to create a new political party. Opponents went to work dismissing the Perot Movement as a “sham” and “shell game” by an egoistic billionaire. Sound familiar? Here’s a link to a CNBC show I did with GOP strategist John Podhoretz at the time, where we debated the “reality” of the movement.
In 1988, a Black developmental psychologist and radical community organizer, Dr. Lenora Fulani, ran for President as an independent and was the first woman and first African American to access the ballot in all 50 states. Turning the spoiler attack on its head, Fulani appealed to Black voters to use their power to deny Michael Dukakis and the Democratic Party the White House in response to their treatment of Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition. She found herself in the crosshairs of Democratic wrath when Michael Dukakis advisor Ron Brown called her campaign “ridiculous.” Here are portions of a CBS news clip from 1988 covering the controversy.
Jackie Salit, the President of Independent Voting, sent the following letter to Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee. She invited independent activists and leaders in her network to join in this outreach. The letter urges that he meet with a group of independent leaders and take the decisive step of opening the 2020 presidential primaries and caucuses to independent voters.
* * *
December 12, 2018
Tom Perez, Chair
Democratic National Committee
430 South Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Dear Chairman Perez,
I write on behalf of the 34 million independent voters who cast their ballots on Election Day. I am the President of Independent Voting, the country’s largest organization of independent voters. I am joined in this outreach by leaders and activists from our network. We represent America’s growing community of independents, now 44% of the electorate. We come from across the country and from all walks of life, from diverse backgrounds and communities.
Exit polling in the midterms shows that independent voters supported House Democratic candidates over Republicans at a rate of 54% to 42%. This support gave the Democratic Party control of the House for the first time in ten years. That means approximately 18 million independents voted for Democratic congressional candidates. Furthermore, more independents came out to vote in the midterms than did in 2014, resulting in a 38% increase in our participation in the November 6th election. It is also worth noting that the political reforms enacted through popular initiatives in Michigan, Colorado, Missouri, Maryland, Florida and Utah had huge levels of support from independent voters.
Our numbers are growing, and, increasingly, we are making the difference in the outcome of elections, while also charting a path for democratic reform. But we are a misunderstood and under-recognized force in the electorate. Contrary to media and pundit spin, we are not “leaners” and we have no interest in becoming either Democrats or Republicans. We wish to remain as independents and we wish to be recognized and respected as such.
In 2016, independent voters were locked out or otherwise restricted in the presidential primaries in 27 states. This meant that over 26 million Americans could not fully participate in the process of electing the President. As you no doubt recall, there was public outcry over this exclusion, particularly from young voters unfamiliar with the closed systems. They were stunned on primary day when they could not vote. In some states—like Arizona where 41% of Latinos are registered as independents, or Florida, where recent surveys indicate 39% of Latinos and 31% of African Americans identify as independents—this exclusion negatively impacts the voting rights of minorities.
We do not want to experience this kind of exclusion again in 2020, and we are reaching out to pursue ways to remedy this problem. Based on the estimated number of independents who voted for the Democrats in the midterms, and the number who were excluded in 2016, we surmise that your party could attract as many as 14 million additional independent voters in the 2020 primaries, if those elections were open to non-aligned voters.In 2016, your state party organizations in Oklahoma, Alaska, California, South Dakota and Nebraska changed their party rules to allow independents to vote. No judicial or legislative action was required. Every state party should do this in 2020.
While we, the undersigned, make no pledge or commitment with regard to supporting any particular 2020 presidential candidate—Democratic, Republican, minor party or independent—we believe the time has come for both governing parties, and for the Democratic Party in particular, to take the decisive step of opening the 2020 presidential primaries to independents. Your party has announced that its first order of business in the new Congress will be the introduction of HB1, a political reform bill. However, to be a truly inclusive democracy, non-aligned voters must have full access to the electoral process, which HB1 does not address.
We, the undersigned, represent thousands of activists across the country working towards achieving full voting rights for all Americans. We hope that you will be available to discuss these issues at the soonest possible moment.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Salit
President, Independent Voting
Diane Matchett, Homer, AK
Beverly Cowling, Toney, AL
Bob Friedman, Birmingham, AL
Rex Baumgardner, Kingman, AZ
Al Bell, Peoria, AZ
Duncan Brown, Tucson, AZ
Tom and Susan Calle, Mesa, AZ
Dennis Flaherty, Chandler, AZ
Mary Maguire, Surprise, AZ
James Morrison, Tucson, AZ
Richard Sinclair, Scottsdale, AZ
Helen Abel, Richmond, CA
Jill Battalen, Oakland, CA
Bob Bogardus, Carmel, CA
Francesca Bolognini, Cambria, CA
Judy Depenau, Santa Rosa, CA
John Eldon, Encinitas, CA
Jeffrey Gerber, Los Angeles, CA
Margaret E Golden, San Mateo, CA
David Guerrero, Ventura, CA
Eric Gwynn, Westwood, CA
Susan Halvorsen, Gualala, CA
Laurel Kadish, Oakland, CA
Michael Kast, Panorama City, CA
Gerald Larey, Summerland, CA
Irene Lucia, Santa Rosa, CA
Cynthia Maher, Los Angeles, CA
Alec Marken, Mission Viejo, CA
Geraldine May, Creston, CA
Dennis McCoy, Tujunga, CA
Maureen ORorke, Corte Madera, CA
Jeanne Schneider, Carlsbad, CA
Steve Stokes, Los Angeles, CA
Eunice Stronger, Oakland, CA
Rusty Thomas, Saratoga, CA
David Weaver, Venice, CA
Roger Wilhelm, Pioneer, CA
Randy Wilson, San Francisco, CA
Gwen Ballard, Carbondale, CO
Randy Fricke, New Castle, CO
Philip Henke, Aurora, CO
Hongyi Jones, Lakewood, CO
Gregory Kozloff, Denver, CO
Fred Malo, Carbondale, CO
Michael Mcloughlin, Lakewood, CO
Susan Sandoz, Highlands Ranch, CO
Nancy Wightman, Lakewood, CO
Lori Williams, Fort Collins, CO
Katherine Wolf, Fountain, CO
Thomas Brown, North Haven, CT
Owen Charles, Madison, CT
Ernest (TJ) Elgin, Westport, CT
Tom Fulda, Rocky Hill, CT
Kirsten Fulda, New Haven, CT
James Kelly Storrs, Mansfield, CT
Carl McCluster, Derby, CT
Jacob R. Raitt, Black Rock, CT
Charlotte Scot, Old Lyme, CT
Maurice Hawkes, Washington, DC
Theodore Killheffer, Wilmington, DE
Fatima Chagani, Hialeah, FL
Gabriela Cheli, Key Biscayne, FL
Greg Flynn, New Smyrna Beach, FL
Steve Hough, Panama City, FL
Bob Inman, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Leslie Johnson, St Petersburg, FL
Francisco Pierre-Louis, Tampa, FL
Claudia Reed, Bokeelia, FL
Terry Richardson, Casselberry, FL
Loyd Sibert, Ocala, FL
Nina Tatlock, Apollo Beach, FL
Rick Thompson, Port Charlotte, FL
Jose Torres, Jacksonville, FL
Murray Dabby, Atlanta, GA
Eugene Howard, Marietta, GA
Clara T. Mills, Atlanta, GA
Barbara Franklin, Honokaa, HI
James Zampathas, Kamuela, HI
Wendie Dockstader, Iowa City, IA
Jean Marsden, Ames, IA
Rose Riker, Sioux City, IA
Kim Tremel, Coralville, IA
Steph Trujillo, Des Moines, IA
Gertrude Ann Wade, Iowa City, IA
Rick Tousley, Lewiston, ID
Brian Arata, Mundelein, IL
David Cherry, Chicago, IL
Jarell Corley, Flossmoor, IL
Nicholas Feda, Elgin, IL
Jackie Freeman, Naperville, IL
Rose Al, Elmhurst, IL
Michael Toussaint, Frankfort, IL
Daniel Shenk, Goshen, IN
Lance Gormley, Newton, KS
Bryce Johannes, Lawrence, KS
Mayjo LaPlante, Topeka, KS
Elaine Stephen, Wichita, KS
Kent Williams, Garden City, KS
Richard Hancock, Richmond, KY
Cassia Herron, Louisville, KY
Mark Ritter, Frankfort, KY
Steve Rockhold, Louisville, KY
Charles Witt, Winchester, KY
David Shepherd, Greenwell Springs, LA
Glenn Heckard, Lafayette, LA
Sarah Bayer, Cambridge, MA
Andrew Costigan, Norwood, MA
Evelyn Dougherty, W. Roxbury, MA
Michael Mullen, Maynard, MA
Lowell Ward, Dorchester, MA
Diane Whitehouse, Dorchester, MA
Nancy Woolley, Stoughton, MA
Marjory Donn, Greenbelt, MD
Stephen Knox, Middle River, MD
Janet McDermott, Trappe, MD
Dona Sauerburger, Gabrillis, MD
Carolyn Sonnen, Annapolis, MD
Bob Croce, Holden, ME
Maria Irrera, Lincolnville, ME
Jill Martel, Dedham, ME
James McNally, Island Falls, ME
Joseph Pickering, Bangor, ME
Julia Smucker, Portland, ME
William Tibby, Mount Vernon, ME
Nancy Boyd, Big Rapids, MI
Thomas Fehlner, Buchanan, MI
Roopa Hindia, Royal Oak, MI
Linda I. Hixson, Ludington, MI
Phil Leech, Spring Lake, MI
Jill Rahrig Bronkema, Bellaire, MI
Gilbert White, Haslett, MI
Christopher Yunke, Onondaga, MI
Luke Barber, Saint Louis, MO
Laszlo Fodor, Maryville, MO
Kelley Keisch, Troy, MO
Mark O’Bryan, St. Louis, MO
Kim Wright, Joplin, MO
Alan Jones, Waveland, MS
Billy Angus, Hamilton, MT
Glen Burbidge, Circle, MT
Omar Ali, Greensboro, NC
Stephen Jack, Goldsboro, NC
Elzy Lindsey, Asheville, NC
Shawn McDowell, Charlotte, NC
Robert Obermeyer, Caswell Beach, NC
Tiani Coleman, Amherst, NH
Alfred Gilbert, Manchester, NH
Kristin Noel, Chichester, NH
Philip Rose, Goffstown, NH
Peter White, Nottingham, NH
Mark Balsam, North Bergen, NJ
Sue Davies, Jersey City, NJ
Sally Jane Gellert, Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Javier Luque, Hasbrouck, NJ
Julie Nersesian, South Orange, NJ
Ramon Peña, Perth Amboy, NJ
Michael Teague, Middlesex, NJ
Kenneth Harris, Pie Town, NM
Gordon Hill, Las Cruces, NM
Tisha Le Rose, Albuquerque, NM
Catana Barnes, Reno, NV
Doug Goodman, Sparks, NV
James Young, Reno, NV
Brett Aresco, Brooklyn, NY
Naomi Azulay, New York, NY
Douglas Balder, New York, NY
David Belmont, New York, NY
Ina Bransome, Rockaway Beach, NY
Diane Buscemi, New York, NY
Joyce Dattner, Brooklyn, NY
Lisa Dombrow, Brooklyn, NY
Caroline Donnola, Brooklyn, NY
Michael Drucker, New York, NY
Jessie Fields, New York, NY
Alvaader Frazier, New York, NY
Mary Fridley, Brooklyn, NY
Sandy Friedman, New York, NY
Phyllis Goldberg, New York, NY
Steve Guarin, Bronx, NY
Kate Henselmans, New York, NY
Harriet Hoffman, New York, NY
James Horton, New York, NY
Thomas Humphrey, Camillus, NY
Regina Kolber, Brooklyn, NY
Christine LaCerva, Brooklyn, NY
Guy Lallemand, Queens, NY
Yvonne Lee, New York, NY
Kathryn Levy, Sag Harbor, NY
Sarah Lyons, Staten Island, NY
Gwen Mandell, New York, NY
Elyse Mendel, Brooklyn, NY
Gail Peck, Bronx, NY
Mark Picard, New York, NY
Marian Rich, New York, NY
Katrina Rittershofer, Yonkers, NY
Nancy Ross, Shushan, NY
Alice Rydel, New York, NY
Cathy Salit, New York, NY
Cathy Stewart, Bronx, NY
Vicky Wallace, New York, NY
Joshua Wallman, New York, NY
Joyce Weisberger, New York, NY
June Hirsh, New York, NY
Sheryl Williams, New York, NY
Janet Wootten, New York, NY
Nancy Brown, Lewis Center, OH
Cynthia Carpathios, Alliance, OH
Stephen Johnston, Marion, OH
Kathryn Little, Cleveland, OH
Constance Mayham, Cincinnati, OH
Sadie Moore Stewart, Cleveland Heights, OH
Andre Morrison, Willowick, OH
Donna Plunkett, Canton, OH
Rick Robol, Columbus, OH
John Ehret, Tulsa, OK
Nicole Rowlette, Tulsa, OK
Dave Ehrlichman, Beaverton, OR
Rick Kauffman, Sublimity, OR
Marcel Liberge, Murphy, OR
Gerald A. McDonald, Klamath Falls, OR
Bonnie Waterston, Portland, OR
Robert Anderson, Columbia, PA
Stephen Bouikidis, Jenkintown, PA
Jennifer Bullock, Philadelphia, PA
Cynthia Crumlish, Philadelphia, PA
Diana Dakey, Dalton, PA
Jan Haig, Phoenixville, PA
Kenneth Hall, Erie, PA
Deborah Meledandri, Murrysville, PA
Cathy Moorehead, Easton, PA
Michael Moorehead, Easton, PA
Ted Robb, Philadelphia, PA
Norma Van Dyke, Philadelphia, PA
Paul Calvanelli, Mechanicsburg, PA
Carl Farmer, Providence, RI
Michael Childs, Myrtle Beach, SC
Wayne Griffin, Greenville, SC
Rick Knobe, Sioux Falls, SD
Trudy Austin, Crossville, TN
Logan Mulford, Knoxville, TN
Brian Carver, Pflugerville, TX
Alie Hewell, Venus, TX
Jesus Pantel, Austin, TX
Ruth Roberts, Galveston, TX
KC Sutherland, Spring, TX
Jan Ward, Leander, TX
Randy Miller, Syracuse, UT
PJ Steiner, Taylorsville, UT
Meryl Butler, Norfolk, VA
Johnette Cosby, N. Chesterfield, VA
Tonya Edlow, Ashburn, VA
Steven Markman, Manassas, VA
Tyler Martin, Purcellville, VA
Steve Richardson, Falls Church, VA
Carl Sheusi, Lynchburg, VA
Michael Smielecki, South Chesterfield, VA
Rudolph Travers, Culpeper, VA
Ginni Treadwell, Westfield, VT
Ronald P. Wold, Randolph, VT
Mark McDougall, Gig Harbor, WA
Teri Raymond, Orient, WA
Diana Fraley, Beloit, WI
Anne Izhiman, Milwaukee, WI
Richard Lyons, Madison, WI
Sharon Nault, Manitowoc, WI
Jason Armentrout, Keyser, WV
Bernard Burnside, Clarksburg, WV
Gaylan Wright, Cheyenne, WY
* * *
Independent Voting
417 5th Avenue, Suite 811
New York, NY 10016
800-288-3201
www.independentvoting.org
Oprah Winfrey spoke at a campaign event on November 1, 2018, in support of Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Governor of Georgia. She began her remarks by explaining to the audience, why she was an independent voter.
“This is what I came to tell you,” said Winfrey after joking she had been sitting in at home in California with “Georgia on my mind” when she decided to reach out to Abrams. “I have earned the right to do exactly what I want to do….I’ve earned the right to think for myself and to vote for myself and that’s why I’m am a registered independent. Because I don’t want any party and I don’t want any kind of partisan influence telling me what decisions I get to make for myself….the reason I’m a registered independent is I believe everybody should have the right to vote their values and to vote your conscious regardless of the party.”
Winfrey sat down with Abrams and spoke with her about her motivation for running.
Full remarks and interview with Abrams here.
For Immediate Release:
October 18, 2018
Contact:
Sarah Lyons (212) 962-1824
In a blockbuster survey of close to 5,000 independent voters conducted from early June through Labor Day, non-aligned voters rendered a clear verdict on whether they get the respect they deserve from the media, the political parties or the candidates. A resounding 87.56% said they did not.
The survey asked unique questions about how independents view their place within the political system, their relationship to the parties and the rules of the electoral game. Independents from all 50 states participated and registered deep distress with the current political process and a strong desire to level the playing field.
The survey was conducted by a committee of leaders from the Independent Voting national network over a 3-month period by phone, in the field and online. The four thousand, nine hundred and eight respondents stated their political affiliation as follows: 94.25% Independent; 3.96% Democrat; and 1.79% Republican.
Independents are now the largest voting bloc in the American electorate according to Gallup, which has tracked voters by party affiliation for decades. This year the percentage of Americans who self-identify as independent has fluctuated between 41% – 45%, far outpacing both Democrats (27% – 32%) and Republicans (22% – 28%).
“While the growth in the numbers of independents has been evident for many years, typical polling questions haven’t adapted to the change. They’ve not explored independents on their own terms. We wanted to do that,” said Randy Miller, founder of the Utah League of Independent Voters who initiated the project with Independent Voting. Miller partnered with Tiani Coleman, founder of New Hampshire Independent Voters, to co-chair the committee that developed the questionnaire and built a national committee to drive the outreach. “It doesn’t serve the public interest to dismiss or mythologize independent voters when 44% of the country self-identifies as such,” said Coleman. “Independents want to be heard and want to participate with full voting rights.”
# # #
A panel of independent voters brought together by Fox & Friends on October 22nd to share their views on the midterm elections deftly displayed the power of independence by diffusing a partisan trap set around the topic of immigration.
Independent Voting’s VP for National Development, Cathy Stewart, was among the four independent panelists which also included: Michael Willner of SAM (Serve America Movement); John Opdycke, President of Open Primaries; and Aaron Commey, Chair of the Manhattan Libertarian Party.
After discussing how independents viewed the midterm elections, host Steve Doocy returned to a story from a previous segment and attempted to sound alarms about the caravan of migrants heading to the United States.
The independent panelists took turns reframing the issue and refused to treat the crisis as a political football.
Avi Selk, a reporter for the Washington Post, picked up on the exchange and published “A Fox & Friends Voter Panel Rebels When Asked About the Migrant Caravan” the following day.
Take a look at how independents changed the national conversation for a few minutes on Monday morning:
Capital Public Radio – Sacramento (6/2/18)
Republicans are at risk of being shut out of California’s races for governor and U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Democrats could face the same fate in several congressional races seen as crucial to retaking the House of Representatives.
It’s called the “Jungle Primary” for a reason.
Tuesday’s primary election has political watchers riveted — not just because of what’s on the ballot, but also because of the state’s unusual primary system.
And as California’s top-two primary system enters its fourth election cycle, the state is split on whether it’s working as its backers promised.
It all began when 54 percent of California voters approved Proposition 14 in 2010.
Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took a victory lap on the steps of the state Capitol the day after the measure passed.
“It will give power back to the people,” he said. “We’ve got to get rid of that partisan gridlock, and this Proposition 14 will do that.”
The system it created is similar to what’s used in Louisiana, Washington and Nebraska: Every voter gets the same primary ballot with all the candidates on it, and the top-two finishers in each race — regardless of political party — move on to the general election.
“The Republican Party and the Democratic Party despise this,” Schwarzenegger said that day. “Why? Because it takes power away from them and gives it back to the people.”
Eight years later, the parties are still ticked off.
A New York Times article last week quoted the House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), as saying “I hate the top two.” And the current California Democratic Party chairman, Eric Bauman, calls it “the worst election reform” the state has ever adopted.
“It was sold to the public that it would moderate our Legislature and our congressional delegation,” Bauman said. “It has not done that. And in point of fact, it has often had the opposite effect.”
Unsurprisingly, that’s not a unanimous view.
“The evidence is kind of mixed,” said Eric McGhee with the Public Policy Institute of California, who’s studied the system since its inception.
He says voters — especially independents, who register here as “no party preference” — have more choices now. That was one of Proposition 14 supporters’ main arguments.
“But there’s some other things that they argued that really haven’t come to pass,” McGhee said. “The turnout really isn’t higher. We don’t see a lot more moderation — just a little bit, and some of it is caused by other things,” such as ballot measures that loosened term limits for state lawmakers and created a citizens’ redistricting commission to squelch gerrymandering.
McGhee says there’s some evidence that some Democrats in the state Legislature have become more moderate, but not legislative Republicans — and not either party in the state’s congressional delegation.
But the system does have fans across the political spectrum. The California Chamber of Commerce, for example, has used the system to elect more moderate Democrats to the Legislature.
“I think we made the right decision at the time,” said chamber president Allan Zaremberg. “And in hindsight, a number of years later, I still think it’s the right decision.”
And freshman Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) credits the top two system for helping him defeat an eight-term incumbent.
“I think it’s fantastic because it gives independent voters a voice in the process,” Khanna said. “My belief is the future of the progressive movement has to be a coalition between Democrats, independents, third party candidates — and this top two system does that.”
Still, there’s evidence it’s not working as designed.
Supporters hoped that when, say, two Democrats advanced to a general election, Republicans would pick the more moderate one. Instead, McGhee says, “a lot of Republicans — somewhere between a third and a half — just aren’t going to vote in that race.”
Polls suggest voters like the top-two system — even though they may still be figuring it out. Kim Alexander with the California Voter Foundation notes the state has churned through a lot of other primary systems.
“We’ve had closed primaries, we’ve had open primaries, we’ve had partially ajar primaries — that’s one of my favorites,” she said. “And what I really wish is that we would just stick with something for a while and let voters get used to it.”
