Independent vs. Nonpartisan: Key Differences Explained

If you’re thinking about voting or even running for office, you may have heard the terms Independent and nonpartisan. They’re related, but they’re not the same. Here’s how to tell the difference, and what each label means for voters and candidates.

Independents and Political Involvement

An Independent voter is someone who doesn’t identify with a major political party, like the Democratic or Republican parties. That doesn’t mean they consider themselves removed from political issues or that they don’t care about politics. It just means they aren’t committed to voting along party lines.

Independent voters can have a major impact on elections, especially in close races, and their numbers have grown over time. According to Gallup, 45% of Americans identify as political Independents. 

However, those 45% of Americans are incredibly diverse. Identifying as Independent doesn’t mean you hold a shared political ideology, and Independent voters and candidates can fall anywhere on the political spectrum.

Comparing Independent vs. Nonpartisan

So what’s the difference between Independent and nonpartisan?

What Does Independent Mean?

The term Independent can refer to a person or an organization.

When it comes to voters, Independent often means someone who:

• Isn’t a registered Democrat or Republican, or

• Is registered with a party, but doesn’t consistently vote with that party

Many Independent voters lean toward one party but stay open to supporting candidates from different parties depending on issues, values, or performance. 

Research from Gallup found that 47% of people said they’re Democrats or Independents who lean toward the Democratic Party. On the other hand, 42% identified as Republicans or Independents who lean toward the Republican Party. This is why Independents are often described as swing voters.

The term Independent can also be applied to organizations. For example, some election reform advocates support independent redistricting commissions, or commissions designed to draw voting district lines with less partisan bias.

What Does Nonpartisan Mean?

Nonpartisan usually means not aligned with a political party, but it can refer to a few different things.

A person might describe themselves as nonpartisan if they don’t want to affiliate with any party, or if they try to stay neutral and focus on specific issues over party politics.

An organization can be nonpartisan, too. For instance, GoodParty.org is nonpartisan, meaning we don’t support candidates based on party. We empower people-powered, Independent-minded leaders who want to solve problems and serve their communities.

There are also many well-known nonpartisan organizations that focus on civic participation, voter education, or policy research, such as:

• The League of Women Voters

• Project Vote Smart

• Common Cause

• The Cato Institute

Finally, and most importantly for many candidates, nonpartisan can describe an election. Many cities and towns hold nonpartisan municipal elections, where candidates for mayor, city council, school board, or local judge run without having a party label printed next to their name on the ballot.

LEARN MORE: Understand the differences between partisan vs. nonpartisan in voting and elections.

Running for Office: Independent vs. Nonpartisan Candidates

Whether a candidate is Independent or nonpartisan has little to do with their political ideology. Rather, the label typically implies the type of election they’re running in.

Nonpartisan Candidates

Candidates who identify as nonpartisan are typically running in a nonpartisan election. In that type of race, party labels don’t appear on the ballot, and candidates run as individuals rather than official party nominees. 

This is common in local elections, like:

• School board races

• City council elections

• Mayoral races (in many cities)

• Judicial elections (in some states)

In these races, you can still rely on your personal political beliefs to vote, but the election itself is designed to focus less on political parties and more on local issues.

Independent Candidates

A candidate who identifies as Independent can run in a partisan or nonpartisan election, but they’re generally someone who runs for office without being nominated by a major political party. They could have affiliations with a third party, like the Green Party or the Libertarian Party, or they could reject all party labels entirely. The most important thing is that they’re not running as the official nominee of either major party. 

In other words, calling a candidate nonpartisan implies the election format, but calling a candidate Independent describes how they’re choosing to run. 

LEARN MORE: Thinking about running for office but new to politics? Learn how to run for office with no experience. 

Voting as an Independent or Nonpartisan Voter

Before registering to vote as an Independent or nonpartisan voter, it’s important to know that rules vary by state, especially when it comes to primaries: 

• Closed primary states (like Florida) require voters to be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary.

• Open primary states (like Alabama, Michigan, and Texas) allow voters of any affiliation to participate.

In general elections, though, you can choose to vote however you feel. 

How to Register to Vote Independent or Nonpartisan

To register as an Independent or nonpartisan voter: 

1. Check Your Voter Registration Deadline: Voter registration deadlines are usually a few weeks before an election. Register early so you don’t miss your chance to vote.

2. Register to Vote: Most states allow voter registration online, by mail, in person at a local election office, and at certain designated public locations, such as the DMV, a public library, or the post office. 

3. Choose Your Affiliation: On your voter registration form, you may be able to choose Independent, unaffiliated, no party preference, or No Party Affiliation, depending on your state. All four mean similar things – you don’t align directly with either of the major political parties. 

4. Get Informed and Make a Plan to Vote: Once you’re registered, take time to learn about the candidates and issues and make a plan to vote on election day.

More Americans are choosing independence from the two-party system, and more communities are embracing elections that focus on people over party. Whether you’re an Independent voter, a nonpartisan-minded citizen, or someone considering a run for office, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Photo by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash