The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Jan. 14, 2026

The number of Americans identifying as independents reached a new high, at the expense of both major parties.   An updated Gallup tracking poll found 45% of respondents called themselves political independents, led by younger Americans.

Gallup asked 13,000 people this question over 2025:  “In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an independent? As of today, do you lean more to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party?”

The polling found 54% of Millennials, born from 1981 to 1996, said they were independents, and 56% of GenZ voters.  They were followed by GenX independents at 42%.    

As to how those independents lean, Gallup noted that Democratic – leaning independents were up from 17% in 2024 to 20% in 2025.   Republican – leaning independents were down three points, from 18% to 15% over the same period.  

Voters who said they were solidly Republican or Democratic tied at 27%, down from 30% of Democrats in 2020, and 29% of Republicans.  

When combining the party faithful and leaning independents, 47% of those polled identified or leaned Democrat, while 42% identified or leaned Republican, the first time in three years Democrats have had the edge.

We’ve linked the full Gallup poll at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl. 

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Gallup – New High of 45% in U.S. Identify as Political Independents
Gallup – (2024 -Previous poll results) Independent Party ID Tied for High; Democratic ID at New Low
Pew Research – Party Affiliation Fact Sheet (NPORS)
ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy – (2017)  Gamechangers? Independent Voters May Rewrite the Political Playbook
Unite America – Research Brief: Significant Share of Young Voters Are Independents 
American Democracy Minute –

Groups Taking Action:

Independent Center, Independent Voter Project, Unite America

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #IndependentVoters #GallupPoll #Polling #2026Midterms

The post Voters Identifying as ‘Independent’ Reaches Record High Led by Younger Americans, Says New Gallup Poll appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 30, 2025

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

American voters identifying as “independent” are the largest group of voters, at 43%, according to recent Gallup polling.  Depending on what kind of primary election your state parties have, millions of unaffiliated voters may not be able to vote.   A bill in the U.S. House called the “Let America Vote Act” would change that.

The National Conference of State Legislatures counts 10 states with closed primaries, allowing only party members to vote, and another 9 with partially-closed primaries.   Twenty-two states have primaries open to unaffiliated voters. 

The bipartisan bill introduced on January 3rd includes the right for any voter to vote in any taxpayer-funded election, and for unaffiliated voters to vote in any primary for federal office.  It would withhold election assistance funding for states not allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in state and local elections, and help to fund transitions to open primary systems. It prohibits any noncitizen from voting in federal elections, but also withholds election funding from states if noncitizens are allowed to vote in state or local elections, currently allowed in only 16 municipalities in the U.S.

Primaries are often low-turnout elections, which often bring out party activists, resulting in more extreme candidates.  Allowing independent voters could pressure candidates to campaign to the middle, and moderate more extreme positions.  Whether national party leadership will support it is an open question. 

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Gallup – GOP Holds Edge in Party Affiliation for Third Straight Year
National Conference of State Legislatures – State Primary Election Types
American Democracy Minute – (2023)  Who Can Vote in a State Primary? Well, that Depends on Where You Live and Sometimes Whether You Belong to a Political Party

Office of U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) – Gluesenkamp Perez, Bipartisan Colleagues Introduce Election Reform and Integrity Legislation
U.S. Congress – H.R.155 – To require States to permit unaffiliated voters to vote in primary elections for Federal office, and for other purposes
Georgia Recorder/States News – Though noncitizens can vote in few local elections, GOP goes big to make it illegal
Bipartisan Policy Center – (2024) The Effect of Open Primaries on Turnout and Representation

Groups Taking Action:

Open Primaries, Represent.Us, Unite America

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #LetAmericaVoteAct #VotingRights

The post ‘Let America Vote Act’ in Congress Would Encourage States to Allow Unaffiliated Voters to Vote in Primaries appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 10, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

May 7th, South Dakota democracy advocates submitted the necessary signatures to put a constitutional amendment establishing a ‘top two’ open primary system on the ballot.  The ballot question would allow the 150,000 independent voters whose tax dollars underwrite the primary to actually vote in it.

On Monday, South Dakota Open Primaries submitted 25% more than the required 35,000 signatures necessary for state constitutional amendments, according to the Secretary of State figures.   

The measure establishes a single ballot open primary for congressional, gubernatorial, state legislature and county offices.  All candidates, regardless of party, would run on the same ballot, but a party affiliation is listed.   The top two candidates advance to the general election, again, regardless of party. 

Such a system allows all voters to participate in the primary, including independents and third party voters. South Dakota’s current system is closed, allowing only voters registered with that party to use that party’s ballot.  Likewise, open primaries allow independent & third party candidates to run on the same ballot, giving voters more choice. 

Because candidates must appeal to voters not registered with that party, open primaries help to limit partisan polarization, and offer more choice.  The South Dakota Republican Party Chair told the South Dakota Searchlight, “We are 110% opposed to the idea.”   Open primaries are often paired with ranked choice voting, but South Dakota Republicans have banned its use.   

We have links to the ballot question text and an explainer on open primaries at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

May 7th, South Dakota democracy advocates submitted the necessary signatures to put a constitutional amendment establishing a ‘top two’ open primary system on the ballot.  The ballot question would allow the 150,000 independent voters whose tax dollars underwrite the primary to actually vote in it.

To view the whole script of today’s report, please go to our website.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
South Dakota Searchlight – Open primary push to see opposition from state Republican Party
South Dakota Secretary of State – Text of Top 2 Open Primary Petition
South Dakota Open Primaries – SD Open Primaries Explained

South Dakota Secretary of State – Breakdown of Voter Affililation, May 1, 2024
Dakota News Now – Petitions establishing top-two primary elections, legalizing recreational cannabis submitted just before deadline
Open Primaries Education Fund – Types of Primaries

Groups Taking Action:
South Dakota Open Primaries, Open Primaries

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #SDOpenPrimaries  #Letthemvote #SouthDakotaNews

The post South Dakota Democracy Advocates Submit Ballot Measure Signatures for a ‘Top 2’ Single Ballot Open Primary System.  If Approved, All Voters Get a Voice in the Primary appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Jan. 22, 2024

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

A Gallup poll released this month found 43% of Americans identify as unaffiliated, independent voters. But in some states, they can’t vote in primaries. As voting begins Jan. 23rd in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, what states are considering closing – or opening – primaries in 2024?

Closed primaries allow only those registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary.  Open primaries allow any voter to take either party’s ballot.  Semi-open primaries allow unaffiliated voters to take one or the other, while registered Democrats or Republicans can only vote in their primary.  

New Hampshire’s Presidential primary is the same as it has been for the last few decades, allowing unaffiliated voters – the state’s largest block of voters – to vote. But the NH GOP is considering closing its future primaries, joining legislators in Louisiana and Ohio.  Wyoming closed its primaries last year, joining Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, and Pennsylvania.  In Wyoming and New Hampshire, attempts to close the primary have been driven by “crossover” voting, where voters became independent to influence the outcome of another party’s primary.

With the ranks of unaffiliated voters growing, ballot initiatives for a fully open primary are under consideration in Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and Idaho.  Pennsylvania has open primary bills pending. 

We have information about your state’s primary system, and the groups taking action at  AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

National Conference of State Legislatures – State Primary Election Types
Gallup – Independent Party ID Tied for High; Democratic ID at New Low
Forbes – Voters Who Identify As Independents Skyrocket—As Democrats And Republicans Dwindle
American Democracy Minute – Fears of Crossover Voting Driving Party Activists to Close Primaries – But at the Expense of Silencing Independent Voters
CBS News –  “Crossover voting” in primaries in Wyoming is about to become more difficult

NBC News – 6 states are rethinking how they run their primaries in 2024
Louisiana Illuminator – (Opinion) Partisan primaries would be a move backward for Louisiana
Public News Service – Bills would open PA primaries to unaffiliated voters
U.S. Vote Foundation – Primary Election Dates and Rules in Your State

Groups Taking Action:
Open Primaries, FairVote, Represent.Us, Unite America,  Yes on 3 Nevada , Open Primaries Arizona, Idahoans for Open Primaries, Ballot PA

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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Are you a radio station?  

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #OpenPrimaries #LetIndependentsVote #IndependentVoters

The post On the Eve of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary, Some States Contemplate Closing their Primaries to Independents, While Others Consider Opening Them in 2024 appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for Nov. 15, 2023

Today’s Script

(Variations occur with audio due to editing for time. Today’s Links below the script)

You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.

This past year, party activists in several states proposed CLOSING their primaries to anyone not registered with that party. Why?

A fear of “crossover voting” to derail extreme candidates seems to be the short answer.  Polarization has driven millions of voters of both parties to become independent, but they may be too moderate for the party faithful.

A recent proposal to close Republican primaries in New Hampshire cited the influence of unaffiliated voters on the outcome of Republican primaries.  Wyoming, Texas and Ohio have, or are considering, legislation requiring party affiliation to vote in a primary.    

Colorado Republicans have also been discussing ways to opt out of the state’s primary system.  Colorado Public Radio cited one state Republican leader as saying, “The current unconstitutional open primary scheme allows for Democrats, and other leftwing groups, to interfere in our primary nomination outcomes so they can weaken our general election prospects.”  

There is little evidence that crossover voting can flip the outcome of an election. 

But there is growing evidence that open primaries DO encourage candidates to be less extreme in primary races when they must appeal to the middle – not just to the 10% of party activists who show up for a closed primary. That may be why fringe activists want to slam the door, and why pro-voter groups advocate for primary access for all voters.  

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.   I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:
Politico – Open season on open primaries
NPR – The U.S. has a ‘primary problem,’ say advocates who call for new election systems
Ohio Capital Journal – Some lawmakers want to close Ohio primaries, claiming without evidence voters are gaming the system
InDepthNH – GOP Resolution Would Block 320,000 Undeclared NH Voters from Voting in Republican Primaries
Colorado Public Radio – Colorado Republicans reject rule change that would have made it easier to close GOP primary, leaving out unaffiliated voters
CBS News – “Crossover voting” in primaries in Wyoming is about to become more difficult
Wyoming Legislature – HB 103 – Political party affiliation declaration and changes
Bipartisan Policy Center – 2018 Primary Election Turnout and Reforms

Groups Taking Action:
Open Primaries, FairVote, Represent.Us, Unite America

Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter and SHARE!  

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #IndependentVoters #CrossoverVoting

The post Fears of Crossover Voting Driving Party Activists to Close Primaries – But at the Expense of Silencing Independent Voters appeared first on American Democracy Minute.