Why Is the Independent Party Back in Norwalk?

A 2022 Gallup poll found that a majority of Americans agree that Democrats and Republicans “do such a poor job that a third major party is needed.” 

• Representation: Over 43% of Norwalk’s ~55,000 voters are registered as Unaffiliated or Independent. This does not include moderate Democrats or Republicans who cross party lines.
• Check & Balance: Accountability, transparency, conflicts of interest, pay to play and other issues occur when political power is concentrated. Currently, 24 out of 25 of Norwalk’s major offices, including Mayor, Common Council and Board of Education AND five of six state representatives are from ONE party, despite 45 percent of the electorate voting differently.
• Closed Primaries: Connecticut is one of a handful of states still maintaining closed primaries – denying independent and unaffiliated voters participation.  
• Gerrymandering and Winner-Take-All: Manipulation of electoral districts has reduced opposition voting power. Incumbents are return to office 95% of the time with our winner take all system versus proportional representation.
• Municipal government should be non-partisan:  Political parties are irrelevant to providing local city services. The National League of Cities highlights 22 out of 30 of the most populous cities in the US have non-partisan elections.
• Alternate Ballot Access: Connecticut’s long standing Independent Party was established to provide ALL residents and potential candidates an alternative political organization dedicated to open and honest government.
• Drive local policy discussion: Policy discussion today is defined and divided by the extreme political positions of the two major parties at the national level. Quality of life issues that average voters care about, especially at the municipal level, are more mainstream and driven by City Hall and competent management of city operations like paving streets, picking up garbage, enforcing city ordinances, zoning and educating the kids.