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
NM Lawmakers: Open Primaries Bill Is About Boosting Voter Participation
KOAT 7 in New Mexico featured an investigative report on the impact of open primaries now that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed SB 16 into law, a bill that opens the state's primaries to more than 330,000 independent voters.
Believe It or Not, There Is Still a 2024 Election That Hasn't Been Called
It may be hard to believe, but as of April 2025, there is still one election in the US from the last election cycle that has not been called: the 2024 North Carolina Supreme Court election between incumbent Democrat Justice Allison Riggs and Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin.
It's Official: New Mexico Has Opened Its Primaries to Independent Voters
As of Monday, New Mexico has officially moved away from closed partisan primaries and has adopted semi-open primaries that allow more than 330,000 independent voters to participate in critical taxpayer-funded elections after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed reform into law.
Trump vs Congress: New Tariffs May Spark More Than a Trade War
A new bill was introduced on April 4 that would place limits on the president's authority to impose unilateral tariffs without congressional approval. The Trade Review Act of 2025 has amassed bipartisan support, including 7 Republican who have signed on to the legislation.
Andrew Yang: Are Democrats Headed for Another Disaster in 2028?
In the latest episode of the Andrew Yang Podcast, formally known as the Forward Podcast, the former presidential candidate and co-founder of the Forward Party sits down with former ABC News White House Correspondent Tara Palmeri to talk about the Wisconsin special election, Elon Musk, and a directionless Democratic Party.
Why Rand Paul Calls Trump's Tariffs a Harmful Tax on Americans
Republican Senator Rand Paul has once again voiced his strong opposition to tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump and has joined a handful of Republicans willing to vote against them in the Senate.
What Will Trump's 'Liberation Day' Mean for US Job Growth?
April 2 marks President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day,’ which could usher in the most aggressive tariffs in modern US history or be completely blown out of proportion.
New Report Finds Universal Vote at Home States Nearly Double Turnout in 2024 Primaries
The National Vote at Home Institute (NVAHI) released a new report Monday that states with Universal Vote at Home (VAH) saw nearly double the voter turnout in the 2024 primary elections compared to states that didn't offer it.
Chuck Todd: When It Comes to Public Mistrust in Institutions, The Parties Just Don't Get It
Last week, the national election reform group Open Primaries held a Zoom conversation with former Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd to discuss voters' growing mistrust in American institutions. It was part of the group's ongoing Primary Buzz Discussion Series.
Ranked Choice Voting Garners Broad Support in Connecticut, Including in Its Legislature
The Connecticut General Assembly’s Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee held a public hearing Monday on SB 1536, a bill to implement Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in Connecticut.