Do independent voters have too much power in midterms? Tell us. | Opinion

If you follow the news about the looming Nov. 3 midterm elections, which will determine which political party controls Congress, you've probably seen or heard plenty about Democrats worrying about Democratic candidates who might be too progressive to win or Republicans who are worried that Republican candidates are too shady to win.

But there's a story being missed here – the massive bloc of independent voters who want a say in our democracy but reject membership in the two major political parties.

Are you a longtime independent voter? Or did you just register that way? We want to know how you got there.

Consider this: In Pennsylvania, where I live, state election officials report that Republican voter registration has dropped by more than 10,000

since January, while Democratic registrations have increased by more than 32,000. Sounds good for Democrats, right? And not so surprising – the backlash against President Donald Trump's second term has fueled election victories for Democrats all year.

We shut out independent voters at our own political risk | Opinion

Are you registered as an independent? Tell us why or why not below.

But Pennsylvania's data shows something else, too – nearly 46,000 voters in that state have registered this year as independents or members of smaller political parties. Independents are outpacing Democrats in a key swing state.

And the Independent Voter Project, which advocates for open primaries, has found that 29.1% of American voters are registered as independents, compared with 37.8% for Democrats and 31.9% registered as Republicans.

Crucial role in the midterms: Independent voters in 3 key states reveal what moves needle for them

Independent voters are a significant chunk of the electorate, and they don't get the attention they deserve. Help us change that. Tell us what makes you independent as a voter.

Submit your answers using the form below, or send us an email at [e-mail] using the subject line “Forum independent voter.” Please include your name and state of residence. You can also leave us a voicemail at [phone]. We’ll publish a collection of your responses, so we may reach out to you about yours.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Chris Brennan on Bluesky, @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social, and on X, @ByChrisBrennan. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Translating Politics, here.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do independent voters have too much power in midterms? Tell us. | Opinion