For many years, Gallup Polls has been asking members of the public whether they are Republicans, Democrats, or independents. The January 11, 2016 results of this poll are here. 42% say “independent”, 29% say “Democratic”, 26% say “Republican.” However, when the independents are asked if they lean to either the Democratic or Republican party, and then the leaners are subtracted from the independent column, 10% remain “independent.”

With results like this, if the United States has fair, tolerant and equal ballot access laws, which most democracies have, it is clear that new major parties would be arising, or would recently have arisen, to challenge the Democratic and Republican Parties.

As reported earlier, some Virginia voters are suing the Virginia State Board of Elections over the new rule that says voters who sign in at the polls to vote in the Republican presidential primary must say they consider themselves Republicans. On January 11, the Judge ordered that the Republican Party of Virginia be brought into the case. The Republican entry into the case will not delay the case, because the party is ordered to file its brief on January 12, Tuesday (tomorrow). The hearing is on Wednesday, January 13.