Unenrolled voter
Encyclopedia
The phrase unenrolled voter is used in the United States of America to refer to a voter who has failed to declare their voting intention. In other parts of the world, an unenrolled voter is one who is not registered to vote
.
" that does not require specific affiliation.
In some states, such as Massachusetts, citizens can choose to refer to themselves as unenrolled voters. Many people refer to an unenrolled voter as being synonymous with an Independent
. However, this group should not be confused with preference towards the American Independent Party
or other Independent political parties. These unenrolled voters may be listed on an Unenrolled list in their state. There are political chapters of unenrolled voters in various states, such as Massachusetts.
Unenrolled voters tend to support voting for whichever candidate, party or philosophy they feel best represents them.
Many states officially accommodate their unenrolled voters by having what is called an open caucus and then an open primary.
One operational definition considered for "unenrolled voter" is an individual who is registered to vote
but has not enrolled in a political party; this is the definition used by the state legislature of Maine
. One of the most recent uses of the terminology of "unenrolled voters" appeared in the Boston Globe on March 27, 2006. The article was associated with John McCain
.
When voting in a state primary, unenrolled voters retain their unenrolled status after they have cast a vote. That is to say, the unenrolled voter does not become enrolled in a particular political party as a result of the party chosen during the ballot. An unenrolled voter does not need to fill out a party change form after voting.
Unaffiliated/Independent Voters Center
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
.
Unenrolled voters in the United States
Typically, unenrolled voters do cast a vote for a Democrat or a Republican candidate after considering the issues. The right of unenrolled voters to vote in any party's primary presidential elections varies by state; in some, one party holds a "closed primary" in which only voters registered with that affiliation may vote, while other parties hold an "open primaryOpen primary
An open primary is a primary election that does not require voters to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote for partisan candidates. In a traditional open primary, voters may select one party's ballot and vote for that party's nomination. As in a closed primary, the highest voted...
" that does not require specific affiliation.
In some states, such as Massachusetts, citizens can choose to refer to themselves as unenrolled voters. Many people refer to an unenrolled voter as being synonymous with an Independent
Independent (voter)
An independent voter, those who register as an unaffiliated voter in the United States, is a voter of a democratic country who does not align him- or herself with a political party...
. However, this group should not be confused with preference towards the American Independent Party
American Independent Party
The American Independent Party is a right-wing political party of the United States that was established in 1967 by Bill and Eileen Shearer. In 1968, the American Independent Party nominated George C. Wallace as its presidential candidate and retired Air Force General Curtis E. LeMay as the vice...
or other Independent political parties. These unenrolled voters may be listed on an Unenrolled list in their state. There are political chapters of unenrolled voters in various states, such as Massachusetts.
Unenrolled voters tend to support voting for whichever candidate, party or philosophy they feel best represents them.
Similar terminology
- In New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, the terms unenrolled or undeclared are used. - In Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, the terms unenrolled or unaffiliated are used.
Many states officially accommodate their unenrolled voters by having what is called an open caucus and then an open primary.
One operational definition considered for "unenrolled voter" is an individual who is registered to vote
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
but has not enrolled in a political party; this is the definition used by the state legislature of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. One of the most recent uses of the terminology of "unenrolled voters" appeared in the Boston Globe on March 27, 2006. The article was associated with John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Automatic party enrollment
In some states an unenrolled voter who votes in a presidential primary automatically becomes enrolled in the party for which their vote was cast, unless they take a simple step to elect to do otherwise. Typically these states allow unenrolled Americans to switch parties after casting their vote in national elections by providing them with signature cards at polling stations. These cards have a box where party affiliation may be declared as Democrat, Republican, Unenrolled or other.When voting in a state primary, unenrolled voters retain their unenrolled status after they have cast a vote. That is to say, the unenrolled voter does not become enrolled in a particular political party as a result of the party chosen during the ballot. An unenrolled voter does not need to fill out a party change form after voting.
See also
- Secret ballotSecret ballotThe secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
- Voter registrationVoter registrationVoter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
Unaffiliated/Independent Voters Center