1. Encouraging to know there were 35.1% of the registered Independents who voted in the 2014 election. Of course, I’m also aware that many of these Independents do not hold the populist view which I hold. But I do admire them for being Independent and not affiliated with either of the two major parties which are nothing but political machines to get their candidates elected – regardless of whether the candidate is truly representing the average North Carolinian or not.

   For today, it appears the average objective of any politician, is to get elected, no matter what they have to say or what stand they have to take. Just get elected!

2. North Carolina does not permit registration for nonqualified parties. The only options, currently, are Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Unaffiliated. Writing in any other option would be automatically listed as Unaffiliated.

3. But could the Independents of North Carolina form a party and be recognized? If here were some 35.1% of them voted, surely there would be enough to qualify for a political party under North Carolina Election Rules.

4. Chris, you’re right, but I am also right. If a voter writes in “Green Party” on his or her voter registration, to my mind that voter is a registered Green Party voter. After all, the voter registration form has the voter’s signature, so it is the primary evidence. Whether the state chooses to refuse to report that outcome does not affect what party that voter is actually (real world) registered into.

   Alabama Independent, North Carolina defines a party in terms of its vote for president or governor, or ability to submit a petition. There is no connection between party status in North Carolina and how many registrants it has.

5. NO primaries. NO robot party hack registration PURGE lists – see Stalin and Hitler in the 1930s.

   —
   P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.

6. I understand how North Carolina defines a party. What I was asking is, if a group organizes a Independent Party of North Carolina, nominated a candidate for Governor, and that candidates gets the required number of votes to be defined as a party, would there not then be a Independent Party of North Carolina recognized as such by Election Officials in North Carolina?

   Or is North Carolina one of these states which does not allow the word “Independent” as part of the party name?

7. Not the registration form, but the voter card. And that only shows what is contained in the voter rolls, which must be Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Unaffiliated.

   And to my friend in Alabama, North Carolina does not have “independent” voters; it has unaffiliated, so I cannot imagine that there would be any problem organizing an “Independent Party.” There was an effort to form an “Independence Party” a few years ago, but it fizzled out when the man who was leading it moved out of state.

8. Parties which use the world “Independent” rather than “Independence” tend to do better in becoming and staying organized. I know the NY State Independence Party is an exception, as I understood many $$$ were initially donated to make it happen. Also, the Alaskan Independence Party was a natural outgrowth of a strong “Independence” movement in that state back some 25 years ago.

   Florida has a organized and state recognized Independent Party with almost 300,000 registered voters, despite that the leadership of the party does very little to promote the party. The word “Independent” is why it still has so many members and that membership slowly grows regardless of lack of leadership.

   Likewise, the American Independent Party of California has over 400,000 registered voters, again the word “Independent” pulling the members in. Like Florida, the California AIP has a do-nothing leadership, yet their registration grows.

   Lastly, the Independent American Party of Nevada still holds its own with a slight growth in members – again the word “Independent” being the key word which draws their members. The IAP of Nevada is active, but it’s positions on policies hurts its chances at the polls more so than does its name.

9. I don’t see how racking up confused and unintentional voter registrations does anything to help a party. Not only do such people not show up or pay dues or even regard themselves as members of the party, but it makes whatever group tries to use it look disingenuous and cynical.

   Sure, you can call yourself the “Independent Party” and get tens of thousands of voters to mistakenly check that name on the form. But what have you really accomplished, other than willfully misrepresenting the intention of some voters?

10. Andy Graig:

    I agree with you that a party of thousands of enrollees on paper means nothing if the leadership does nothing. That was my point by pointing out, that despite using a generic name of “Independent,” such a party without leadership will not grow. If these “Independent” parties had leadership, and put forth serious candidates, I guarantee you they would be making some political headway.

    I don’t think most of these people “mistakenly” check the “Independent Party” label. Some do of course. In California and in Florida, voters have a choice; “American Independent Party” or “Unaffiliated” in California. And in Florida, “Independent Party” or “Unaffiliated.” Voters aren’t that stupid. They know how they are registering to vote. That is what they want to be – an Independent. The fact that a political organization is attached to the Independent label and is a political party is irrelevant.

    Many people check “Democratic” not because they care for the party, but the word “Democratic” identifies who they are philosophically. The same can be said of many Republicans. It is the candidates they are more likely to identify with than the party.

    Again, let a Independent Party have good leadership and serious candidates, and the voters will respond.

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