Majority of voters favor an alternative to Democrats, Republicans

A new Gallup poll has found, once again, that a majority of Americans say a third party is needed because the Democratic and Republican parties do a poor job of representing the public.

The Sept. 4-7 survey found that 58 percent want an alternative choice. Some 71 percent of independents believe a third choice is needed beyond the two-party system.

According to the Independent Voters Network, among Democrats and Republicans, 47 percent and 46 percent, respectively, agree that their own parties are not doing an adequate job in offering a political choice that represents their views.

Majority support for alternatives first emerged in a 2007 poll. The historical high of 60 percent favoring a third party came in a survey conducted during the partial federal government shutdown last October. At that time, Gallup reports, just 26 percent of Americans said the parties were doing an adequate job. That figure is up to 35 percent now, but with little change in the percentage calling for a third party.

The new poll comes as an independent candidate, Greg Orman, is leading in the polls in the Kansas Senate race.

In addition, the IVN reports that Maine also faces the possibility of electing independent Eliot Cutler for governor. If he wins, that would mean the small New England state would be the first state in modern political history to have an independent governor and U.S. senator (Angus King) at the same time.