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Dramatic Increases in Independent Registration Since 2008

The number of registered Independents in the 8 presidential battleground states has increased by nearly 1 million since 2008. During the same time period, Democratic registration has fallen slightly and Republican registration has inched up. In total, since 2008 in these 8 states:

  • Independent registration has increased 969,589, or 14.4%, and now stands at 7,697,565;
  • Republican registration has increased by 158,037, or 1.3%, and now stands at 12,047,112; and,
  • Democratic registration has decreased by 372,827, or 2.5%, and now stands at 14,723,535.

Democratic registration was down over 800,000 in our August voter registration report. Since then, Democrats have added 427,502 to the voter rolls just in these 8 states. 

In 6 states—Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania—Independent registration has grown faster than either Democratic or Republican registration. In Iowa, Republicans gained while Democrats and, to a lesser extent, Independents fell. In New Hampshire, voter registration fell across the board, but Republicans shed the fewest voters.

And in 5 states—Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico, and North Carolina—Independent registration increased by double digits, the largest a gain of 25.2% in Colorado and the smallest 19.5% in Nevada.

Read more in our newest analysis of the numbers: Rage Against the Machine: Independent Registration Soars Since 2008.