Shawn Griffiths
Gallup has released its annual look back at what party affiliation looked like in the previous year. What it found was independent ID remained steady at a record-high 43% from 2023 to 2024.
The data also follows the first year in which the polling group found a majority of Americans (51%) identified as independent for the first time in its monthly party affiliation index.
"Both parties are near their historic low points in unleaned party identification.," Gallup reports. "After not registering under 30% until 2015, the percentage has been below that mark in six of the past 10 years."
The data is significant because it shows that more Americans are holding on to their independence. Independent ID has consistently trended upward but there typically is a "rollercoaster effect" year-to-year because of election cycles.
The dip seen in previous election years didn't happen in 2024, despite the hotly contested presidential election in which voters were told they had to pick a side. It is also worth noting that the 2022 dip wasn't as substantial as previous years.
The second thing the data shows is further evidence that the current political system in the US doesn't serve voters at-large. It serves a minority -- a shrinking partisan minority.
Voters find themselves stuck with the options the two parties give them when it is clear by their responses in poll after poll after poll that they want more choice, competition, and accountability in elections.