In New Jersey, nearly 2.5 million voters (37%) are registered as Independents (officially called unaffiliated voters). We outnumber Democrats and Republicans in 16 of our 40 Legislative Districts. We are the majority in 7 of 21 counties: Bergen, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Salem and Somerset. The number of people registering as independents in New Jersey is increasing at a faster rate than the two parties.
Independents are not leaners or closet Republicans or Democrats. We believe that people should come before the parties, and we do not want to be told what to do by a party.
The top reasons that people register as independents are:
- They want to vote for the candidate, not the party
- They don’t want to be told what to do
- They believe that the two-party system is corrupt
However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.
George Washington Farewell Address
Mary T. Johnson
I am an Independent voter because I want some say in who represents me. Currently, the two major parties select candidates and, according to how the party places candidates on the ballot, pretty much guarantee who will run for office (in the general election). I am an Independent because neither of the 2 major parties represent me. Both are more interested in amassing and maintaining power.
Juanda Hall
I am an independent voter because I am a passionate advocate for thoughtful decision-making and individuality in the political process. Growing up as a poor African American girl in Charleston, SC, and later moving to Brooklyn, NY, I developed a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives and the importance of addressing systemic challenges. These experiences shaped my values of independence, fairness, and the desire for inclusive solutions.
As an independent voter, I believe in prioritizing policies and candidate integrity over party loyalty. My disappointment with the limitations of our two-party system has led me to embrace issue-based voting and a commitment to championing alternative ideas that resonate with real-world needs. I am dedicated to fostering positive change through open-minded and informed choices.
Kate Henselmans
Born in the Netherlands, I grew up in the 60s in an environment where political dialogue and different points-of-view were part of the political landscape and daily live. An activist since my teens, I moved to the US in 1986 and have been working since with the community that created independent organizations to address poverty such as Independent Voting. Over the years, I have organized and petitioned for many campaigns and candidates. all focused on opening up the electoral process to make it more democratic and accessible to all people.
Sandy Gift
I am a registered Independent voter residing in the State of New Jersey. The State of NJ prefers to call me an “Unaffiliated Voter.” That label does not define who I am as an Independent voter, but instead, serves to justify the State of NJ’s closed primary system which excludes independent voters from the primary voting process unless they “affiliate” with one of the two controlling parties, i.e., Democrat or Republican.
I refuse to confine myself to established party rules, talking points and ways of thinking. I am an independent thinker. I look at all candidates to determine who best serves my individual needs as well as the collective needs of the American taxpayers and our nation. I prefer to define myself as a voter who prioritizes country over party.
Sue Davies
I have been a proud independent since 1986. I had grown disillusioned with the entire political process after doing an internship on Capital Hill while in college. Immediately after college, I became politically engaged in grassroots organizations, but refused to have anything to do with elections. Independence gave me a way to chart my own path as a leader, a voter and a concerned citizen. Over the past 40 years, I have never regretted that decision. I’ve become more convinced that the two-party duopoly is harming our country and people of all political stripes. I am an independent because I want to talk to all people–independents, democrats and republicans. I believe that we cannot solve any of our problems through a partisan lens which distorts everyone and every issue.