It's not exactly a new trend, but Secretary of State Michael Adams says it's gaining momentum. The percentage of new Kentucky voters opting not to fill in the box beside Republican or Democrat is on the rise.
In fact, for the last three months, more Kentuckians have selected options such as Independent or Libertarian than the two major parties combined. Adams says the move toward alternative affiliations is another signal that polarization continues to increase, with disenchanted voters—especially younger people—putting a priority on rejecting the traditional labels.
Currently, registered Republicans make up 47% of the Kentucky electorate, Democrats make up 42%, and other affiliations now claim 11%.
Choosing an alternative to the two major parties in Kentucky does come with a disadvantage. The decision means the voter will not be able to vote in partisan primary elections.