Poll: Half of adults identify as independents, desire for 3rd party at record high Matt Rourke/AP A vote here sign is seen outside a polling place during the South Carolina primary, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) and last updated 2021-03-02 12:38:28-05 WASHINGTON, D.C. â A recent Gallup poll found half of U.S. adults now identify as political independents, the highest percentage the analytics company has ever measured in a single poll. The same poll, conducted in late January and early February, determined that support for a third political party in the U.S. is at a high point, with 62% of adults saying the âparties do such a poor job representing the American people that a third party is needed.â Thatâs an increase from 57% in September.