logo
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
Report: More States Banned Ranked Choice Voting in 2024 Than Any Other Year
Report: More States Banned Ranked Choice Voting in 2024 Than Any Other Year
Ballotpedia released a report on the increased efforts in various states across the US to ban ranked choice voting, a popular nonpartisan reform that continues to gain momentum.
Trump's Chance to Temper the Hyperbolic Rhetoric
Trump's Chance to Temper the Hyperbolic Rhetoric
In the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, leaders on both sides of the aisle publicly called for unity and the tempering of extreme and hyperbolic language. But those calls have been better in theory, than practice.
Ranked Choice Poll: VP Harris Is the Favorite to Replace Biden
Ranked Choice Poll: VP Harris Is the Favorite to Replace Biden
A new ranked choice voting poll shows that if Democrats were to replace President Joe Biden on the party’s presidential ticket, Vice President Kamala Harris is the strong favorite. However, the numbers show she does not poll as well as Biden against former President Donald Trump.
Disagree Better: Group of Governors Have Worked to Cool Down the Political Rhetoric
Disagree Better: Group of Governors Have Worked to Cool Down the Political Rhetoric
Following the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, leaders of both major political parties have called for unity and for a change to the venomous rhetoric in US politics. 
Idaho Top 4 Initiative with Ranked Choice Voting Certified for November Ballot
Idaho Top 4 Initiative with Ranked Choice Voting Certified for November Ballot
The Idaho secretary of state announced this week that Idahoans for Open Primaries turned in enough signatures for its ballot initiative to end the state's closed primary system.
Richmond, Calif. Will Vote on Ranked Choice Voting in November
Richmond, Calif. Will Vote on Ranked Choice Voting in November
The Richmond City Council unanimously approved a ballot measure for November in a 5-0 vote that authorizes the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) for mayor and city council elections. 
Kennedy's Campaign Says It Has Gathered Signatures Needed for 27 States
Kennedy's Campaign Says It Has Gathered Signatures Needed for 27 States
The last couple of weeks have been eventful for independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, who may not have been invited to the CNN presidential debate but continues to rack up ballot access victories across the US.
The Partisan Perspective: Your Choice in November is Between Sunscreen and Skin Cancer
The Partisan Perspective: Your Choice in November is Between Sunscreen and Skin Cancer
In a system that was designed to perpetuate a zero-sum contest between two sides, the stakes get higher each election cycle to convince people they have to cast their ballot a certain way “or else.”
Gallup: Majority of Voters Declare Their Political Independence
Gallup: Majority of Voters Declare Their Political Independence
Gallup generally finds that independent voter ID falls between 40 to 50 percent of the electorate. However, 4 months out from November, the latest numbers show 51% of Americans now identify as independent of the two major parties. 
New Documentary Asks: What If Party Bosses Didn't Control How We Vote?
New Documentary Asks: What If Party Bosses Didn't Control How We Vote?
In 2022, Alaska voters used a new election system that changed the way state voters thought about elections.