The Independence Party needs a better name.

Third parties have a strong history in Minnesota. Everyone recalls the old Farmer-Labor Party. The Libertarian, Constitution and Green parties do well in this state. There’s even a Modern Whig Party. And Jesse Ventura was elected governor in 1998 as a Reform Party candidate and changed to the Independence Party while in office.

The Independence Party remains listed by the Minnesota secretary of state as a major political party.

But the name is just confusing for everyday voters.

People who are not members of any political party are called independents. Politicians who are not affiliated with a party — such as 1980 presidential candidate John B. Anderson — are called independent candidates.

Then there is the Independent Party, America’s Independent Party and the American Independent Party.

And there are Independent Democrats, politicians who agree with Democrats on most issues but do not affiliate with the Democratic Party — such as Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman. And there are Independent Republicans, who have the same situation with the Republican Party.

And don’t forget that the Republican Party in Minnesota used to be called the Independent-Republican Party.

Moreover, the Alaskan Independence Party advocates independence of Alaska from the United States. Cessation from the union is probably not a popular idea in Minnesota, where residents shed blood in the Civil War to keep these United States united.

Voters who are not party faithfuls, political junkies, politicians or news journalists sure must become confused sometimes. You can just imagine someone asking about a IP candidate: “What’s it mean when they say this guy is independent?”

We doubt the Independence Party will change its name simply at the urging of this editorial. However, we ask for this from everyone else: Please don’t name your party “Independent” or “Independence.”