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
A 2024 Analysis Shows the Undeniable Force of the Independent Vote
Independent voters showcased how critical of a voting bloc they were in the 2024 elections. What's more, they showed that despite the claim that they are "party leaners," they were not committed to candidates of a single party.
Giving Voters a Say: Maryland Bill Takes Aim at Representation by Appointment
A March hearing has been set in the Maryland House of Delegates for a bill that requires special elections if a state lawmaker is appointed to their seat in the first half of their term.
Iowa May Become Latest State to Ban Ranked Choice Voting
Monday marked the kickoff of the 2025 legislative session in the Iowa General Assembly. However, several bills had already been prefilled for consideration. Among them: a ranked choice voting ban.
FEMA's Recovery Tips for California Wildfire Survivors
In the midst of historic and devastating wildfires in Southern California, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued guidance and tips for impacted individuals and families.
Idaho Lawmakers Are Going After the Ballot Initiative Process
Idaho lawmakers are still fuming that citizen-led groups tried to change the way the state elects its lawmakers. The 2024 initiative failed, but now a bill in the legislature would make it harder for any ballot proposition to pass.
Andrew Yang Makes a Bold Prediction about The Next Presidential Race
Former presidential candidate and Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang kicked off 2025 with some predictions about what will happen this year in the US political landscape on his podcast, Forward.
Bill Filed to Close Indiana's Critical Primary Elections
Indiana lawmakers will consider a bill filed in the state's House of Representatives that seeks to the close the state's primary elections and condition full voting rights on joining one of two major political parties.
On His Way Out, Trudeau Says He Regrets Not Implementing Ranked Choice Voting
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation this week after nearly a decade in power, reflected on his time in office and says he has one regret: He wished he had implemented ranked choice voting.
Will Congress Grant Independent Voters Full Voting Rights in 2025?
While all eyes are on the speakers vote Friday, a bipartisan coalition of US lawmakers plan to re-introduce legislation that would represent the largest expansion of voting rights in modern US history.
America's Party-First System Leaves Little Room for Leadership
The House of Representatives will vote Friday on who will serve as speaker for the 119th congressional term. The thing is, unless Republicans can get all of their members in line, it may not be a quick process.