And I didn't notice that you provided any logical reason why voters see an political advantage in being unaffiliated. It might be that Americans' understanding of their own political system has eroded even further from its already abysmal level. I see Trump as an indication of this. There's nothing wrong with either motor voter or vote by mail and despite the ignorance of the unaffiliated both Oregon grown institutions will be adopted by intelligent citizens of other states in the future. Maybe the bigger question is why people are willing to give up the few political choices they do have for the mere posture of being able to say to themselves or their friends (like dogs sniffing one another's you know what) "I'm not a Democrat" or "I'm not a Republican." Truly pointless given that the two parties differ enough for people to locate their own political tendency without too much trouble.