RUFTY TRIES TO LINK INDEPENDENT/NPA VOTERS, "MOTOR VOTER" LAW

Lakeland Ledger political writer Bill Rufty makes an interesting note in this week's column: Since the Motor Votor Act was implimented in December, 1994, the number of registrants who list no party affiliation has quadrupled in Polk County. That's 55,763 independent/NPA people, or 19 percent of the registered voters, compared to 42 percent (120,258) who list themselves as Democrats and 39 percent (111,828) as Republicans.

Before Motor Voter, the number of indy/NPA registrants was only five percent. So, what's happening?

Of course, you have to consider that there are a number of citizens who honestly are dissatisfied with the two major parties and choose to list themselves with no political party. But Rufty also explores the concern among some in the elections biz that at least some folks who register to vote at social service and driver license offices believe they have to do so in order to get services. Of course, that's not true.

It's an interesting point.