The election is over, but most of what determines independent voters' standing—primary access, redistricting outcomes, registration rules—is decided in the eighteen months between elections, not during them. Continued reader support is what keeps this research running through that stretch, heading into state legislative sessions and off-year elections in 2027. Research funded directly by the readers who use it, rather than by a party or candidate with a stake in the outcome, is what makes it possible to report findings that are inconvenient to any party at all. Year-end giving season, including Giving Tuesday on December 1, is simply a practical moment to make that support count, since gifts to a 501(c)(3) like the Independent Center are tax-deductible for U.S. donors who itemize.
Most of what affects independent voters' standing—primary access, redistricting outcomes, registration rules—gets decided in state legislative sessions and off-year elections, not only in November of even years. Continued support funds the research that keeps tracking those changes into 2027, when several states are expected to revisit the primary-access questions this year's coverage followed closely, and when Virginia and New Jersey hold off-year elections of their own.
A research organization funded by a party, a PAC, or a candidate has an obvious incentive to shade its findings in that funder's favor, even unintentionally. Research funded by readers instead is free to report findings that cut in any direction—for example, that independent candidates outperformed expectations in some races while losing outright in others—without either finding being inconvenient to a funder. That kind of reporting depends on the people funding it being readers, not campaigns.
For U.S. donors who itemize deductions, a gift made by December 31 counts toward this tax year. Giving Tuesday, December 1, is simply the day many nonprofits, including the Independent Center, use to mark the start of that window, not a one-day-only opportunity. Giving at any point before year's end has the same tax treatment.
Is a donation to the Independent Center tax-deductible?
Yes. The Independent Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible for U.S. donors to the extent allowed by law. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Why does it matter who funds research like this?
Funding shapes incentives, even unintentionally. Research funded by the readers who use it has no funder to answer to when a finding cuts against one party or in favor of another, which is harder to guarantee when a party, a PAC, or a candidate is the one writing the check.
What's the difference between Giving Tuesday and year-end giving generally?
Giving Tuesday, December 1, is a single widely recognized day many nonprofits use to kick off year-end fundraising. Any gift made before December 31 receives the same current-year tax treatment, so the specific date within that window matters less than giving before the deadline.
Does the Independent Center take a side on which party should win elections?
No. The Independent Center's research tracks independent voters' standing and behavior; it does not endorse parties or candidates.
If this research is worth reading, sign up for our newsletter to keep following it into 2027. If it's worth funding, make a tax-deductible gift before the year closes out.
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