A non-party election occurs when all candidates run as independents, meaning that they do not belong to any political party. In such elections, candidates do not have party symbols, and voters are not affiliated with any party. Non-party elections are usually characterized by a focus on the individual candidates and their platforms rather than on the party's policies. Non-party elections can occur at any level of government, from local to national. They are often used as a means of reducing the influence of political parties and encouraging independent thinking and decision-making by voters.