Independents are about 13,000 voters away from being the largest voting group in Maricopa County

Both the Democratic and Republican parties lose voters after each election, according to Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.

That exodus happened largely in January. 

But he says there are other reasons for the jump in numbers of independents. 

“This is largely due to new registrants. One out of every two new registration forms we are getting is independent or party not declared,” he said. 

Richer added the office saw a significant number of voters change their registration from the Republican and Democratic party to independent or “other.”

There are currently about 913,000 Republicans, 900,000 independents, and 819,000 Democrats registered in Maricopa County.