In a First, US Independent Turnout Tops Democrats, Ties Republicans, Edison Research Says
Source: US News and World Report/Reuters
Nov. 6, 2024, at 12:46 a.m.
(Reuters) -Self-identified independents accounted for a larger share of voters in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election than Democrats and were tied with Republicans, Edison Research exit polling data showed.
It was the first time since Edison began exit polling in 2004 that independents' share of overall turnout has exceeded that of one of the two major U.S. political parties.
The independent share stood at 34% in the latest update of Edison's exit poll, compared with 34% for Republicans and 32% for Democrats.
The independent turnout share was up 8 percentage points from 2020, when at 26% it was a distant third to both Democrats and Republicans.
Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-11-06/in-a-first-us-independent-turnout-tops-democrats-ties-republicans-edison-research-says
3825-87867
(1,123 posts)!
LiberalArkie
(16,582 posts)In the south the I's get purged from the rolls less often. But, the R's started registering I also.
live love laugh
(14,479 posts)There is there is no way that at the last moment we can see the kind of turnaround that gave Trump. This alleged win without some outside interference.
H2O Man
(75,656 posts)If one notes that the number of independent voters surpassed both the republican and Democratic parties in recent years, this comes as no surprise.
LisaM
(28,681 posts)One thing that (especially) younger voters don't pay attention to is the party platform.
I first saw the difference between the 2004 and 2008 elections when Washington still had caucuses. In 2004, turnout was larger than I had seen in earlier years, but everyone engaged in voting on the platform.
In 2008, there were a ton of voters, but they had zero interest in voting for the platform. In fact, in my precinct, they didn't. They skipped it entirely even though it was in the rules that we were supposed to vote for it, and the people running the precinct let that stand for some reason. We just skipped to the vote.
The platform represents everything young voters say they want, including efforts to save the environment, and affordable healthcare. Yet they don't pay attention to it and most of them probably have never heard of it.
I think we were a better country with stronger parties and stronger party identification.
3825-87867
(1,123 posts)and apathetic about everything unless it pertains directly to each individual.
Hard to believe that those in rural America who have very little and especially small farmers, don't realize they're going to have even less and the Republicans will switch the blame to Democrats.
I got mine, you get yours.
And greed is good (but only for those who have or think they have).
Gordon Gecko for the win.
H2O Man
(75,656 posts)And no surprise, coming from you. And you bring up extremely important points -- ones that every Democrat needs to understand.
We are in an era that is very different than anyone has experienced. It is not like when Democrats alone could win elections ...... and although it has been that way since the felon's era began, to paraphase LBJ, we have to change our thinking in order to master the changing circumstances.
LisaM
(28,681 posts)I don't think it strengthened the Democratic party itself. Even his own voters abandoned him in the 2008 special election and in the 2010 midterms. They elected him, but didn't give him the tools to work with. That mystified me, but the lesson was that people were ignoring actual issues to some extent. They share the same values, they want the same things, but seem unwilling to commit their vote beyond the Presidential election year or to understand how government works.
Also, I appreciate your kind words, very much needed today.
H2O Man
(75,656 posts)President Obama said, "Make me do it." But once he was elected, good people seemed to sit back, satisfied that he could accomplish anything and everything. And that created a vacumm which was immediately filled by the tea party. And that degenerated into the maga cult that has become the republican party.
generalbetrayus
(660 posts)who just don't want to admit they are fascist, racist pigs like those who admit they are Republicans.
wryter2000
(47,540 posts)I just figured many of them would be never-Trumpers
Dumpy
(41 posts)that mean more people would be registered republicans instead of registered democrats. Democrats have a branding problem?
Captain Zero
(7,522 posts)nt
Fiendish Thingy
(18,651 posts)I know theres lots of votes still being counted on the west coast, but the last popular vote update I saw - 66 million for Harris, 71 million for Trump- seems way lower than 2020, by like 20 million.
ancianita
(38,743 posts)Maybe I'll lay them out later. There will be a postmortem, but today's not my day for it.
wryter2000
(47,540 posts)Were all those young people independents?
DiamondShark
(1,114 posts)Too many were purged off the voter rolls this election cycle. Add that to voter apathy and you get what we saw last night.
This is one result of FAFO, or Stay Home and Find Out.
H2O Man
(75,656 posts)a rapidly increasing number of young people register as independents.
TBF
(34,526 posts)We do not have registration. The only time we have to declare at all is when we vote in a primary, and it does not obligate us in the general.
Do other states have to register by party to vote??
I smell BS on this.
markodochartaigh
(2,202 posts)usually about one third, who can't be bothered to vote as long as they get their hamberders and sportsball.
Ignorance and apathy are the Achilles' heels of democracy and in the US both ignorance of issues and apathy towards politics are considered cool.
Hope22
(2,999 posts)The Republicans are now Maga. A few more cycles and it will all be Maga. No D, no R simply MAGA hail it the king. Think of the money that will be saved on campaigns. The effort and time saved will allow everyone to have a hobby or study something interesting or attend therapy.
oldmanlynn
(466 posts)Not sure why? Gaza maybe