Which states have a plurality of unaffiliated or independent registered voters as of 2024?

1. A converging core: the states most often named as “independent pluralities”

Multiple analyses converge on a consistent core of states where unaffiliated voters outnumber either major party individually and often both parties combined; Massachusetts, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and Rhode Island appear across reports as holding a plurality of independents. The Independent Voter News compilation (November 2023 data cited) lists a top-10 where several of these states rank highest by share, while later snapshots summarized by Digg/USAFacts (September–October 2024) confirm particularly large independent shares in Massachusetts, Alaska and Colorado ^{[1] [3]}. The repetition of these states across differently timed reports strengthens the claim that they constituted independent pluralities in the 2024 period, though exact percentages vary by source and date ^{[1] [3]}.

2. Where analysts disagree: extra states, outliers, and implausible figures

Beyond the convergent core, analyses differ. One compilation includes Iowa and New Jersey among the top independent states and even lists Arkansas with an extraordinarily high independent share in one dataset (87.94%), which conflicts with other sources and suggests data or categorization errors in that analysis ^{[1] [4]}. Another report enumerates nine states but lists a somewhat different set (adding Iowa and Maine in one 2022 snapshot), and Reuters-derived summaries cite nine states with overlapping but non-identical membership ^{[2] [5]}. These discrepancies reflect differences in cutoffs, whether “plurality” requires outnumbering both parties or just one, and potential mislabeling of party categories, so readers should treat outlier entries—especially extreme percentages—with skepticism until verified against official state registration rolls ^{[4] [5]}.

3. Timing matters: the role of date cutoffs and data vintage

The variations map closely to the publication dates and the registration snapshot used. The Independent Voter News list explicitly relies on November 2023 data for its 2024 claims, Digg/USAFacts references September 2024 numbers showing Massachusetts, Alaska, and Colorado particularly high, while some summaries rely on data only through 2022 or unspecified dates ^{[1] [3] [5]}. Because registration totals shift with new registrations, party switching, and periodic roll maintenance, a state listed as an independent plurality in late 2023 could shift relative standing by late 2024. This timing effect explains many apparent contradictions and underscores why any authoritative statement must cite the exact data snapshot date used ^{[1] [3] [5]}.

4. Methodology matters: how “independent” is defined and reported

Reports diverge not just by date but by how they define and count “independent” or “unaffiliated.” Some states allow no-party registration that is tracked uniformly; others classify a range of minor parties or blank registrations differently. Several analyses explicitly note that in states where voters are registered without party labels they may still be blocked from certain primaries, which affects political interpretation even if numeric plurality exists ^{[6] [1]}. The presence of closed vs. open primary rules, and whether data sources combine minor-party registrations with unaffiliated totals, produces material differences in which states show a plurality of independents and how politically consequential that plurality is ^{[6] [1]}.

5. Bottom line and how to verify further

The most defensible conclusion from the provided analyses is that Massachusetts, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and Rhode Island are repeatedly identified as having independent/unaffiliated pluralities during the 2023–2024 period, with other states—such as Iowa, New Jersey, Arkansas, and Maine—appearing in some datasets but not others ^{[1] [2] [3]}. To resolve remaining disputes, consult each state’s official voter registration reports for the specific cutoff date you care about; the observed disagreements in these summaries stem from different snapshots and counting choices, not necessarily from simple factual contradiction ^{[1] [3]}.