The Independent Voter Action Plan
The Largest Voting Bloc Doesn't Need a Party — It Needs a Plan
OUTGROW THE PAST. BUILD THE FUTURE.
A System Built To Evolve
"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent and untried changes in laws and constitutions... But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... as manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
— Thomas Jefferson, Letter (1816)
LET'S DEFINE AMERICA
America is a
Representative Democracy
Inside a
Constitutional Federal Republic
The people hold the power, and not just on Election Day. We vote for our leaders, petition them, protest peacefully, speak freely, and enjoy a free press. Elections alone don't make a good democracy.
Democracy
Everything runs on written rules in our Constitution, the supreme law of the land. It creates three branches that check each other, and the Bill of Rights protects freedoms no government can take away.
Constitutional
Power is shared between Washington and the 50 states. Washington handles national matters like defense and currency; states run much of daily life, like schools, roads, and police. Neither can swallow the other.
Federal
No kings, no inherited power. We elect representatives, from city council to Congress to the presidency, to govern on our behalf. Power is loaned by the voters, never owned, and every election is a chance to take it back.
Republic
LESS PARTY, MORE COUNTRY.
What Inspired Us?
Independents Hold The Keys To Restoring America's
Full Democracy Status
America's Democracy Status
In 2016, the Economist Intelligence Unit downgraded the United States from a Full Democracy to a Flawed Democracy, and the slide has continued under both parties. The 2025 Democracy Index ranks America 34th in the world. Freedom House's 2026 report gives the U.S. its lowest score on record. And the V-Dem Institute's 2026 report downgraded America's democratic classification for the first time in more than 50 years.
America has fallen out of the ranks of full democracies, where allies like Canada, Norway, and Denmark still stand, and now sits among the world's flawed democracies, alongside Panama, Brazil, and Argentina.
What's Driving the Decline
Extreme polarization, collapsing trust in elections, uneven application of the rule of law, and the outsized influence of donors and special interests — problems that belong to no one party — have eroded trust and deepened division.
The Independent Solution
Independent voters are uniquely positioned to fix this. United in purpose and free from party loyalty, we can reward leaders from either party who deliver results and hold accountable those who choose partisan warfare over country.
By choosing country over party, we can restore America's standing as a full democracy and a more prosperous, secure nation worthy of the freedoms we've fought to protect.
So how did the country that helped invent modern democracy fall this far, and what exactly is being measured? To understand the decline, it helps to see where America now stands on the world stage, and how the leading democracy indexes actually keeps score.
global democracy indexes
Democracy Is Rarer Than You Think
How the World Is Governed
FULL
DEMOCRACIES
The world's most robust democracies.
25
Countries/Territories
6.6%
World Population
Citizens enjoy the fullest range of political rights and civil liberties, backed by strong institutions, rule of law, and transparent governance.
(EIU 2024)
FLAWED
DEMOCRACIES
Firmly democratic, but with ongoing challenges.
46
Countries/Territories
38.4%
World Population
While meeting basic democratic standards, these countries face political polarization, corruption, or uneven application of the rule of law.
(EIU 2024)
HYBRID
REGIMES
States with limited respect for freedom.
36
Countries/Territories
15.7%
World Population
Elections are not genuinely free or fair with irregularities. Pervasive corruption, weak rule of law, and the harassment of opposition groups and journalists.
(EIU 2024)
AUTHORITARIAN
REGIMES
Severe deprivation of basic rights.
60
Countries/Territories
39.2%
World Population
Political rights and civil liberties are denied, often involving severe suppression of dissent, media censorship, and lack of democratic processes.
(EIU 2024)
Freedom for Some
45%
Live in a Democracy
The percentage of the world’s population living under either a full or flawed democratic system.
(EIU 2024)
23%
Full Freedom of Speech
The percentage of people who can freely express political opinions, organize protests, and petition the government without fear.
(V-Dem)
8%
Access to Free Press
The percentage of the world’s population living in countries where the media is considered truly free.
(Freedom House)
20%
Reproductive Autonomy
The percentage of women of reproductive age living in countries with broad, secure access to full reproductive freedom and choice.
(UNFPA)
room for improvement
Restoring America to a Full Democracy
Seeing where America ranks is the first step.
The encouraging part: the same index that measured the decline also points to the cure. The EIU scores every country on five clear pillars, and that is exactly where Independent voters can drive the comeback.
the five pillars
Elections, Governance, Participation, Discourse, Liberties
The system is currently wired for party control rather than voter choice. We need structural upgrades like open primaries and ranked choice voting to ensure every ballot truly matters.
Elections
Hyper-partisan deadlock has rendered Washington unresponsive to everyday citizens. We must demand accountability and cross-party compromise so our institutions actually function and deliver results.
Governance
Millions of Americans feel politically homeless and tune out of the process entirely. We need to mobilize the record 45% of Independent voters into an active, unified force that politicians cannot ignore.
Participation
Public discourse has degraded into bitterness, media echo chambers, and zero-sum division. We must restore civility, rely on objective facts, and reward leaders who prioritize progress over partisan warfare.
Discourse
Foundational individual freedoms are increasingly threatened by polarization and institutional overreach. We must fiercely safeguard core constitutional rights to ensure stability, security, and liberty for everyone.
Liberties
Straightforward Reforms
Upgrading Our Democracy
THE PATH TO FULL DEMOCRACY
Practical, common-sense fixes that Independent voters can champion to strengthen our elections, government, and political culture. Independent voters will once again feel their voices matter and that the system can deliver results.
The Goal
The Economist Intelligence Unit now ranks the United States as a “Flawed Democracy.”
We believe this can be fixed, not through partisan battles or sweeping overhauls, but through clear, practical reforms that Independent voters can support across the political spectrum.
The Details
The table below outlines the five key pillars the EIU uses to evaluate democracy, where America is falling short, and the common-sense fixes that would strengthen each one. These targeted improvements focus on making elections fairer, government more functional, participation easier, culture more civil, and liberties more secure.
The Outcome
By implementing these practical reforms, America will climb back above the 8.0 threshold and regain its full democracy ranking on the EIU Democracy Index. This will bring higher voter turnout, reduced gridlock in Congress, and stronger public trust in our elections and institutions.
These changes will also produce more bipartisan legislation that solves real problems and restore the United States’ global credibility as a stable, functioning democracy.
take action
How Independent Voters Can Drive Real Change
None of this requires a new party. It requires the largest bloc in America to start acting like it.
The five pillars in the table above show exactly where American democracy needs strengthening.
As the largest voting bloc, Independents have the power to push for these common-sense fixes, not by starting a new party, but by demanding better from both sides.
Every reform above already works somewhere. The only missing piece is Independents who show up, demand it, and refuse to be taken for granted.
Start with one step this week, and don't do it alone.
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