All Votes Count Iowa

Ok, in the last few days I've heard this..."“I’ve been following your page and I’ve had it. You’re not independent at all! You're just a bunch of ____.”

The problem is, from the talking heads to the political consultants to our party-based elections, we try to define independents by an ideology: Centrist? Moderate? Libertarian?

Being independent is a mindset, not an ideology. It does not mean that you lack an ideology. It does not mean that you don’t have libertarian, socialistic, conservative, or liberal tendencies. Being independent means that you don’t believe so stridently in a perfect philosophy that everyone who doesn’t agree with you must be an idiot … or evil … or brainwashed. Let's stop with the name calling!

"Closed primaries allow political parties to control the narrative" - Senator Joe Manchin. Here more on this NewsNation story:

Neither Left or Right want open primaries to sustain control of narrative: Joe Manchin Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin joins “CUOMO” to discuss the defeat of Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., in the Kentucky GOP primary. Massie, who has served in Congress since 2012, lost to Trump-…

Today we celebrate Flag Day and the enduring principles our flag represents—freedom, opportunity, self-government, and unity. While we may differ on issues and politics, we remain one nation committed to the promise that every citizen has a voice.

Happy Flag Day!

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The 15th amendment to the Constitution.

"The only clue to what man can do is what man has done" according to RG Collingwood. This quote was at the end of the movie, Nuremberg. If you don't vote in the primary, don't expect anything to change.

Independents in the news: This week alone, major outlets moved the conversation dramatically. The Washington Post editorial board delivered a blistering rebuke to the leadership of both parties on their attempts to shut out voters, while The Atlantic tied partisan gerrymandering and safe districts directly to the growing power of closed primaries.

Across the country, the same pattern keeps emerging: independent voters shut out of taxpayer-funded elections, low-turnout primaries dominated by ideological activists, and growing frustration with a system many voters increasingly see as rigged by (and for) the parties themselves.

More than 19% of the state’s registered voters participated in the 2026 primary election, up from more than 16% in the 2022 primaries, according to unofficial results from the Iowa Secretary of State.

Unofficial results also show that 411,525 total ballots were cast in this year’s primary, compared to 356,140 in 2022.

Independent voters can cast ballots in the primary but they have to change their party registration at the polls. How many more people would have voted if this wasn't the case???

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. The 15th Amendment to the Constitution.

Tomorrow is the Iowa primary. Please vote. If you need to know where you polling place is click on the link below. If you are an independent you will be required to change your party affiliation in order to get a ballot. Please let us know how that process went and how you felt about it.

https://apps.sos.iowa.gov/elections/voterreg/pollingplace/search.aspx

Remember, voting isn't the most you can do but it's the least you can do! If you don't like what is going on, you need to vote in the primary. That's where the decisions are made in most districts.

Find Your Precinct/Polling Place Business filing uploads have now moved into Fast Track Filing. You will be redirected to Fast Track Filing in 10 seconds.

How closed primaries lead to a more polarized Congress. Story from NPR

How single-party primary elections are reshaping Congress Some lawmakers are speaking out against closed, single-party primaries, which they see as part of a system that limits voter choice and incentivizes elected officials to prioritize party loyalty.