WASHINGTON — More Americans call themselves politically independent than at any point in the past 75 years, according to a new poll. The Pew Research Center poll shows that an unprecedented 38 percent of adults rejected both parties and call themselves independents. Only 32 percent say they are Democrats, and 24 percent call themselves Republicans.
Independent voters are critical in competitive general elections. The survey also found that the face of the independent voter is changing, with more Latino and younger voters saying they are politically independent. The poll found the remaining Democrats and Republicans have grown more ideologically divided in the past decade.
The April 4-15 phone poll of 3,008 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points. The Associated Press
