The independent voting movement is a group of progressive, anti-party, left/center/right alliance, independent voters in the United States seeking to reform the two-party electoral process at all levels of government. The primary organizing entity for the movement is the Committee for a Unified Independent Party (CUIP), and its Internet presence, independentvoting.org. Their mission is to "develop a movement of independent voters for progressive post-partisan reform of the American political process".[1]
As of 2013[update], 40% of U.S. adults identify as independent.[2][3][needs update]
Although the current independent movement is not a political party, it has its roots in several, the most prominent being the New Alliance PartyofNew York City, the brainchild of Fred Newman. The NAP dissolved in 1994, and a number of its members, including Newman and activist Lenora Fulani joined the Independence Party of New York state (IPNY), whilst also, along with Jacqueline Salit, starting the Committee for a Unified Independent Party. Many of the CUIP founders were also involved, through various organizations, in the formation of the Reform Party in 1995, an outgrowth of Ross Perot's 1992 Presidential campaign. Members of the CUIP worked with the IPNY to successfully elect Michael Bloomberg mayor of New York City in 2001, 2005, and 2009, though it is unclear the extent of the participation. It is also unclear if the CUIP has always been anti-party, or if it has evolved this philosophy based on its dealings with the IPNY over the last 15 years. Today, the independent movement has many leading figures in New York, and New York City, and it has branched across the country to organize grassroots movements under its umbrella.
Jacqueline Salit is the current head of the movement from her position as president of CUIP and independentvoting.org. Nancy Ross is the secretary and treasurer of the organization.
According to the organization's website:
CUIP (Committee for a Unified Independent Party) grows out of our origins in the organized independent political movement, where we continue to work across ideological and organizational boundaries to bring independents and third parties together. IndependentVoting.org, CUIP's online presence, reflects our focus on grassroots organizing of unorganized and unaffiliated independent voters.[1]
