No Party Affiliation vs. Independent: What’s the Difference?

Is No Party Affiliation (NPA) the same as being an Independent? Not exactly. While the two terms are often used interchangeably, they don’t always mean the same thing. Depending on your state, the distinction can affect how you register to vote, whether you can participate in primaries, and how candidates appear on the ballot.

A growing share of Americans don’t identify as Democrats or Republicans. Recent polls show that about 45% of Americans call themselves Independent. But the label they use actually matters more than most people realize. In this guide, we’ll break down the difference between No Party Affiliation and Independent, how states use these labels differently, and why understanding the distinction matters.

No Party Affiliation (NPA) vs. Independent: Definitions

No Party Affiliation (NPA) voters are individuals who don’t register with any political party when signing up to vote. You may also see similar terms, like unaffiliated or nonpartisan. In most cases, “No Party Affiliation” is a formal designation used by election officials during voter registration, and its usage varies by state.

Independent, on the other hand, can sometimes be synonymous with NPA, since both describe voters who are not registered Republicans or Democrats. However, Independent is generally a broader political identity, rather than a strict registration label.

Some people identify as Independent because they reject the two-party system entirely or prioritize individual candidates over party labels. Others may shift their support between parties depending on the race. Some voters even register with a third party, such as the Libertarian or Green Party, while still considering themselves Independent in practice.

Similarities Between NPA and Independent Voters

Despite the differences in terminology, No Party Affiliation and Independent voters share several important traits:

• Outside the Two-Party System: Both groups choose not to register as Democrats or Republicans. While their reasons may differ, opting out of the two-party system is the common thread.

• Limited Access to Closed Primaries: Several states use closed or semi-closed primary systems, which restrict who can vote in party primaries. In fully closed primaries, voters who are registered as NPA or Independent cannot participate unless they temporarily register with a major party. Rules vary by state, but this limitation affects both groups.

• Wide Diversity of Beliefs: Neither NPA nor Independent voters are politically uniform. These labels include conservatives, centrists, progressives, and everything in between. The only consistent feature is that they don’t formally align with a major political party.

LEARN MORE: Explore what being an Independent voter means and why it matters.

Differences Between NPA and Independent Voter Registration

One key difference between being Independent vs. NPA is familiarity. Most Americans understand what it means to be an Independent voter, while fewer recognize “No Party Affiliation” as a specific registration category. 

Another difference between NPA and Independent voters comes down to state-specific terminology and election rules. Because election rules are set at the state level, terminology varies widely across the country. Some states use “unaffiliated,” others use “No Party Preference,” and some recognize “Independent” as a formal registration option.

How States Use NPA vs. Independent

States handle party registration differently, and they don’t all use the same terminology. Some states treat No Party Affiliation and Independent as effectively the same thing. Others treat them as separate and distinct options on voter registration forms. And many states don’t use either label at all.

States Where NPA and Independent Are Separate

In some states, No Party Affiliation (or an equivalent term, like No Party Preference) is a specific voter registration category that is different from registering as an Independent or with a minor party.

In these states, NPA (or its equivalent) means no party at all, while Independent might refer to a recognized political party. Voters registered with the Independent Party are not considered NPA.

Examples of states that classify registration this way include:

• Florida: Florida uses the formal designation No Party Affiliation (NPA). Voters registered as NPA are distinct from voters registered with parties like the Independent Party of Florida or other minor parties. As of January 31, 2026, over 3.3 million Florida voters were registered as No Party Affiliation.

• Delaware: Delaware uses the label No Party. Voters registered with recognized minor parties, including the Independent Party of Delaware, are not considered No Party voters. As of February 1, 2026, over 245,000 Delaware voters were registered as No Party.

In these states, NPA is strictly a voter registration status, not a party identity.

LEARN MORE: Explore some of the official third parties in the United States. 

States Where NPA Is Functionally the Same as Independent

Some states use terminology that treats Independent and no party as essentially interchangeable for voter registration purposes.

States where NPA and Independent are the same include:

• California: California uses the term No Party Preference (NPP) instead of NPA. While voters may colloquially call themselves Independent, NPP is the official voter registration category for voters who don’t affiliate with a party.

• Colorado: Colorado uses the term “Unaffiliated” as its official registration category. While many voters describe themselves as Independent, the formal designation is Unaffiliated, and the two function interchangeably in practice for registration purposes.

• North Carolina: North Carolina uses the term Unaffiliated. There is no Independent registration category, so voters who consider themselves Independent register as Unaffiliated.

In these states, Independent is primarily a political identity, while the formal registration label is a similar but distinct term, like No Party Preference or Unaffiliated.

States That Don’t Use Party Registration at All

Many states don’t ask voters to declare a party affiliation when registering. In these cases, voters are considered unaffiliated by default, even if they personally identify as Independent.

States like Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Georgia fall into this category. Because party affiliation isn’t formally recorded at registration, terms like NPA or Independent are largely self-identifiers, not legal designations.

NPA and Independent Voters vs. Candidates

A common area of confusion between NPA and Independent is when talking about candidates instead of voters. No Party Affiliation is typically a voter registration designation, while Independent is a label many candidates use when running for office.

Even in states that use NPA on voter registration cards, people rarely run as an NPA candidate. Instead, candidates who don’t affiliate with a political party almost always refer to themselves as Independents, regardless of how voters in their state are categorized.

LEARN MORE: Thinking about running for office? Check out our guide to running for office as an Independent to understand ballot access, filing rules, and campaign basics.

Common Misconceptions About NPA and Independent Voters

As the number of unaffiliated voters continues to grow, misconceptions persist.

• Myth #1: NPA and Independent voters are always moderates or centrists. In reality, Independents span the full political spectrum. Many hold strong ideological views but reject party labels or partisan loyalty.

• Myth #2: NPA and Independent voters are disengaged or indecisive. In fact, choosing not to affiliate with a major party is often a deliberate political decision, rooted in opposition to hyperpartisanship or dissatisfaction with the two-party system.

• Myth #3: NPA and Independent voters are a recent phenomenon. Independent politics are not new. Even George Washington warned against the dangers of entrenched political parties, arguing that they could divide the country and distort democratic decision-making. Whatever label they use, voters who don’t align with major parties have always been part of American democracy.

Whether you identify as No Party Affiliation, Independent, or unaffiliated, you’re not alone. GoodParty.org is building a nationwide community of Independent, nonpartisan, and unaffiliated voters and candidates. We support people who want to participate in politics without caving to the interests of the two-party system, from voters looking to get involved locally to candidates ready to run people-powered campaigns.

Photo by Joe Deptowicz on Unsplash