When leaning independents are not considered, what happens to the number of independents?

Focusing on the dynamics of voter affiliation, when leaning independents are not included in the count of independents, the overall number of individuals identifying strictly as independents typically decreases. Leaning independents are those who may not formally align with a political party but show a preference toward one party over the other. When this group is excluded, the individuals who remain categorized strictly as independents tend to have less defined political affiliations, often resulting in a reduced total count of independents. This reflects a tendency for many voters to lean toward one party, indicating a fluidity in party identification that can lead to lower numbers in the independent category when those who lean in favor of parties are considered separately.