LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is seeing a steady increase in voters who are shunning both political parties and registering as independents.

The growth comes as the number of Republican and Democratic voters has declined since the 2008 election.

More than 227,000 voters are now registered as a “nonpartisan,” a 16 percent increase since the last presidential election. Registrations overall have risen in each election year over the last decade.

Democratic activists say the growth in independent voters reflects a willingness to look beyond party labels in the overwhelmingly conservative state. Republicans say most of those independents are still likely to support GOP candidates.

University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor Paul Landow says the shift reflects a national frustration with traditional party politics.