Final answer:
Independent voters and split-ticket voting have risen as earlier practices of party coercion and bribery have declined, leading to greater voter empowerment and diversification of political loyalty. Electoral reforms and changes in the primary system have facilitated this shift, allowing independents to play a key role in elections, even within a largely two-party system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise of independent voters and split-ticket voting signals a shift in American electoral behavior that contrasts with earlier practices. In the 19th century, the political landscape was dominated by party control and corruption, with political parties often influencing votes through bribery, intimidation, and preprinted ballots that did not allow for voting across party lines. This era lacked a secret ballot, allowing vote-buying and coercion, as party loyalty was paramount and elections were frequently rigged by political machines.
However, transformations in ballot design and the importance of local issues began to empower voters. The office block ballot format allowed individuals to choose candidates from different parties, a practice known as split-ticket voting, which political parties tend to dislike because it reduces party cohesion. On the other hand, parties prefer the party-column ballot, which encourages straight-ticket voting, allowing voters to select all candidates from a single party with one action.
Over time, changes such as the primary system during the Progressive Era weakened party regulars' grip on candidate selection and allowed for more voter independence. Although party-line voting has seen a resurgence in recent years, the existence of independent voters and split-ticket voting suggests a diversification of political loyalty and consideration of issues beyond mere party affiliation, which could be key in fall contests.
The two-party system has been shaped by electoral rules like plurality voting and the way parties are organized. Despite minor parties attempting to alter this dynamic, the political system remains primarily dominated by the Republican and Democratic parties. Nonetheless, shifts in party coalitions and the rise of national issues influencing Congressional elections indicate a more complex political environment in modern times.