If you identify as an independent, registered as one even, but then vote for one of the two main parties, are you really an independent?

[Anonymous]

Since you know the independent's not going to win, ever, yet, you still register and identify as one, but then vote for one of the two major parties. Why?

I know someone like that. He identifies as an independent but then voted for trump

He's a liberal on the social stuff, but a "conservative" on the fiscal side

[combative]

There have been 13 different parties in America with the title of Independent in some way shape or fashion with different political views. So to be registered as an Independent is ambiguous. A candidate running from one Independent party may not represent the policy positions of a member of a different Independent party, and thus they will lose Independent votes to other parties that more closely represent them when it comes to a national election. Independent parties generally do not run candidates for every office, thus voters are left to choose among the available possibilities. I'm personally not associated with a party at all. There is an Independent party in my state, however I'm registered as "No Party Affiliation". I vote for candidates, not parties and I always research every single candidate.

[Asker]

Out of curiosity, who'd you vote for. Dont have to tell me if you don't want to

[AviatorTom]

I am an Independent. That means I like some liberal policies, some middle of the road policies, and some conservative policies. For each office, I vote for whoever I want, sometimes that's a Democrat, sometimes that's a Republicsn, and sometimes it's a lesser party candidate.

As an Independent, I don't belong to any party.

[DryGermanGuy]

In a country with effectively a two-party system, what else are you supposed to do? In my country as a centrist/independent I have five or six different parties in parliament to choose from.

[Asker]

The way it should be

[exitseven]

I am not a registered Republican but I have not voted for a democrat since Obama's first term. They are just too crazy. I do not see it getting any better any time soon.

[Asker]

Then you're a republican, by default, because if you were truly an independent, you'd vote strictly independent

[exitseven]

Yes. i really doubt that I will ever vote for democrats again.

[DrPepper12]

I have registered for both parties for reasons of helping or sabotaging primaries.

I'm independent but vote Working Families Party or Greens when cross endorsed by Democrats

[Asker]

But you know they're not going to win

[DrPepper12]

Cross endorsed and Dem? I get my guy and smaller party gets more public campaign funds

[SmokinAces2000]

Because Independents never win. Until an independent has an actual shot at the presidency we will have to vote for one of the major parties

[In_Trance]

You're really a dick head if you do something like that