Religious 'Nones' at All Time High with No Political Influence

The number of U.S. adults who don't affiliate with any religion, or "nones," is at an all time high--however, a new study shows that despite their growing numbers, the group has very little political influence.

In 2004 the nones made up 14 percent of the public but only 10 percent of voters. In the last presidential election they jumped to 20 percent of the public, but inched up only to 12 percent of voters, according to research released by the Public Religion Research Institute.

"They could have considerable impact on the political direction of the country but have so far chosen not to do so," said Daniel Cox, PRRRi's research director and a co-author of the study.

Stumbling 'Bloc.' Why Candidates Are Struggling to Corral Millennials

According to the Pew Research Center evangelical voters are strongly in favor of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, while the none's are lining up behind Hillary Clinton.

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However, that's expected to help her very little, as the nones are expected to again be underrepresented at the ballot box this fall.

Millennials Becoming Disillusioned with White House

Currently, more than one-quarter (26%) of unaffiliated Americans report they are not registered to vote, a significantly higher rate than among white evangelical Protestants (10%), white mainline Protestants (11%), or white Catholics (12%).

Religious "nones" are, however, somewhat less enthusiastic about Clinton's candidacy (26% now strongly support her) than they were about Obama in June 2012 (37%).