what is independent

Being independent means not being influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc. . It can also mean not subject to control by others, self-governing, or not affiliated with a larger controlling unit. An independent person is free from the control or influence of other people. In politics, an independent voter is someone who does not align themselves with a political party. They may vote for candidates based on issues rather than political ideology or partisanship, and they may not have long-standing loyalty to or identification with a political party.