The Independent Party is a “minor party” defined under Connecticut law. I speak in strong opposition to the discriminatory and anti-democratic proposal in Section 27 of Raised House Bill 5498 to bar our party from using the word “Independent.”
I support the initiatives regarding absentee ballot security and restoring confidence in our elections contained in this bill, but of all the reforms needed to protect democracy and ensure more proportional representation, who knew the term “independent” posed the greatest threat, when Connecticut lacks open primaries, term limits or equal ballot access and funding for minor parties?
The term “independent” has meaning to the average voter. One Webster definition aptly reflects these partisan times, defining independent as “not affiliated with a larger controlling unit.” How ironic that Democrats and Republicans might destroy a minor party in Connecticut, just as we strengthen our name recognition. Political junkies will recall during Jefferson’s era that the Republican Party was once called the Democratic-Republican Party, before splitting into two. How would the Founding Fathers view these two parties now legislating the elimination of a third party?
With over 100 ballot lines across the state, we resurrected the local Independent line in Norwalk in 2021, formulated a town committee and have run over two dozen candidates. We have two elected officials and more on local boards. We advocate municipal policy and focus on community and quality of life issues. As a municipal and statewide party, we run our own candidates and cross endorse reform-minded Democratic and Republican candidates. We advocate for something currently lost with the two parties — moderation in an increasingly polarized world. The independent brand established in Norwalk and across the state is based on the values of information, inclusion, compromise and common sense.
Norwalk has a long history with the independent name as a party. Our only female mayor, Jenny Cave, was elected as an Independent in 1975. Folklore has it that the best city governance Norwalk ever had was when we had five Dems, five Republicans and five Independents on our city council in the 80s and 90s.
Arguing that the term “independent” is confusing with regard to voter registration is disingenuous. It can be easily remedied by adding the term “party” to Democratic, Republican and Independent, as well as the term “unaffiliated voter” to the registration rolls.
In 2019, California’s legislature tried doing what you’re proposing to do in the name of “voter confusion.” Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it, saying he couldn’t sign a bill that impacted only one group. Minor state parties across the U.S. use the term “independent” without issue. Alaska, Oregon, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Vermont have Independent state reps.
The two major parties may wrongly identify the Independent Party as a threat because of unrest they’re experiencing in their own organizations. The real threat is removing choice on the ballot — leaving voters disaffected.
Recently, we supported reform-minded Democrats in Bridgeport with our ballot line, where John Gomes received about 40% of the vote. In Stamford, the Democratic mayoral candidate sought the Independent Party endorsement and benefitted from the additional votes. Republican candidates in Norwalk and across the state benefit from votes on our line.
Killing a recognized name and making us start all over is punitive. It’s the wrong message at the wrong time and most likely will be ruled unconstitutional, violating our freedom of speech and freedom of assembly under the First Amendment.
I strongly urge removal of clause 27 from this bill.
Lisa Brinton is the Norwalk Town Chair of the Independent Party of Connecticut.
