There are more Independent voters than ever.

The disaffection, polarization and lack of trust in our political parties are causing voters to disaffiliate in record numbers. Gallup has measured the number of Americans who say they consider themselves Independents at 43 percent, almost as many as Republicans and Democrats combined. In many states voter registration is growing the most rapidly for unaffiliated or Independent voters - by double digits in more than a dozen states.

Independents are now the largest group of registered voters in a number of states including Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, New Jersey and most of New England. In Massachusetts, 53% of voters are registered independents; in Rhode Island, 51% are; and in New Hampshire 43% of voters are independents. In Rhode Island almost 60 percent of the voters enrolling this year chose not to register with a party.

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