Shawn Griffiths
Shawn Griffiths

Shawn is an election reform expert and National Editor of IVN.us. He studied history and philosophy at the University of North Texas. He joined the IVN team in 2012.

Articles by Shawn
“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
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2 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
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8 min read
ranked choice voting in maryland
Greenbelt Voters Deliver Overwhelming Win for Ranked Choice Voting in Maryland
With the national media focused on elections in New York City, New Jersey, Virginia, and California, one overlooked story was the expansion of ranked choice voting on Tuesday as Greenbelt, Maryland, joined the dozens of U.S. cities that have adopted and already use the reform....
05 Nov, 2025
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3 min read
Newsom vs Trump
Democrats Drive Out Anti-Trump Base to Propel Proposition 50 to Victory
Ahead of the November 4 special election in California, it was easy to predict the success of a legislative gerrymander under Prop 50. When the measure was projected to be victorious the second polls closed, it didn’t surprise anyone....
04 Nov, 2025
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5 min read
New york city.
Fraud in NYC Mayoral Election?! Why Zohran Mamdani Appeared Twice on Ballots
Zohran Mamdani’s name appeared twice on the New York City mayoral ballot?! No voter ID?! Eric Adams appeared on the ballot despite dropping out?! Andrew Cuomo’s name appeared last?! An election rigged against Cuomo?!...
04 Nov, 2025
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5 min read
California Prop 50 gets an F
Princeton Gerrymandering Project Gives California Prop 50 an 'F'
The special election for California Prop 50 wraps up November 4 and recent polling shows the odds strongly favor its passage. The measure suspends the state’s independent congressional map for a legislative gerrymander that Princeton grades as one of the worst in the nation....
30 Oct, 2025
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3 min read
Gavin Newsom
Newsom Builds National Donor Base with Prop 50 While Gerrymandering War Escalates
The ongoing mid-decade redistricting battle between the Republican and Democratic Parties, which now literally spans from the west coast in California to the east coast in Virginia and North Carolina, may be the final nail in the coffin for an old saying in American politics: Specifically, “All politics is local.” ...
29 Oct, 2025
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4 min read
Curtis Sliwa voting.
The Most Disliked Candidate in the NYC Mayoral Race Isn't the Republican
The New York City mayoral election has drawn national attention in a way voters haven’t seen in modern history. This is because Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, 33 and a self-described democratic socialist, is poised to win based on the latest polling....
27 Oct, 2025
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5 min read
Ranked choice voting's use nationwide.
Ranked Choice Voting Expands Across America in 2025 -- From New York City to Fort Collins
Eighteen U.S. cities and counties have used or are using ranked choice voting (RCV) in 2025 -- including the largest cities in three states: New York City (for its primaries only), Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City....
24 Oct, 2025
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3 min read