[heleny]

the group of voters who have either opted out of the major parties or out of registering altogether has grown almost three times as fast as the eligible population. ...
Why is the Silent Majority turned off by the major parties and even voting itself?

Part of the reason people register with no party, besides disenchantment with the two major parties, is that it affords more choice. Decline-to-state voters in California can vote in the primaries of one of most of the parties, and can vote for everything except party leaders (and perhaps the Presidential nominee). Essentially, one can change his party affiliation at each primary, up to the day of the election, without re-registering.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"...one can change his party affiliation at each primary, up to the day of the election, without re-registering."

If this was a factor for Simon's primary win, it argues even more strongly for him to amplify his pro-individual, pro-liberty, small-government, upbeat message from the primary season!