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Some legislators in Arkansas are joining the fight for a more open and transparent political process that includes all voters regardless of their party affiliation, or lack thereof. On March 1, State Representative Dan Douglas (R) introduced HB1766, which would institute what the bill calls a "nonpartisan blanket primary" system, by amending the state’s election code. The bill was co-sponsored by Representative Clarke Tucker (D), giving it bipartisan support in the House. The blanket primary p

On Wednesday, March 1, a nonpartisan, top-two bill proposed by Illinois state State Rep. Sara Jimenez (R) was assigned to Election and Campaign Finance Committee. The bill, HB3655, was originally introduced on February 10, and would make Illinois the third state to adopt a top-two primary system for statewide elections. IVN reported in January on another bill, HB0285, introduced by state Rep. Mike Fortner (R) that would reform state primary elections the same way. Fortner's bill was also assign

President Donald Trump gave his first speech before a joint session in Congress Tuesday night, laying out the policy proposals his administration plans to pursue in its first year and first term in office. What stuck out to many across the political spectrum is that the tone was presidential, wasn't divisive, and didn't toe a partisan line. Many political commentators and pundits were expecting Donald to be Donald. In other words, as they see it, for him to be divisive and confrontational. Yet,

Little Rock, AR - A state bill designed to "protect the rights and privileges granted under the Arkansas Constitution and the United States Constitution, and to declare American laws for American courts" may cover a broader scope than its proponents are advertising. HB 1041, introduced by Rep. Brandt Smith (R - Jonesboro), invalidates court rulings if they are based "in whole or in part" on foreign bodies of law that do not grant parties a particular set of "fundamental rights, liberties, and p

The soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat occupied by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R) has Kansas legislators scrambling. Pompeo’s impending appointment as the CIA director will prompt a special election in Kansas’s 4th Congressional District; a type of election for which the rules have not been updated since the 1950s. Enter Kansas legislator Keith Esau (R-Olath), chairman of the Kansas House Elections Committee. Last week, Esau introduced HB2017, which would change special elections in the state significa

For over a year, IVN has reported on Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach's crusade against fraudulent voters -- including the twists, turns, court rejections, and outright lack of evidence his investigations have produced. From illegally purging 18,000 legitimate voters from the rolls to falsely promising the state legislature 200 cases of voter fraud for immediate prosecution -- Kobach has spent more time in court defending his baseless claims than actually doing his job. But he stays in th

In August, just one month after the Democratic National Convention, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders announced the launch of Our Revolution, a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping his progressive movement alive and strong. Among its stated goals are “supporting a new generation of progressive leaders" and "empowering millions to fight for progressive change." To these ends, Our Revolution backed more than 100 candidates from the school board level to the U.S. Senate between August and Ele

In a watershed electoral victory for drug policy liberalization in the United States, an astounding eight states voted to legalize marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes Tuesday. That’s an especially resounding win for marijuana legalization considering that nine states had marijuana on the ballot, putting marijuana reform at an 88% success rate on Election Day. In four states—Florida, Arkansas, North Dakota, and Montana—voters passed medical marijuana initiatives, and voters in four

I spent last Friday at the county courthouse training to be an election worker for the 2016 election. Under most circumstances in my life, except for standing in 110+ degree heat in line at the Clark County Courthouse getting a marriage license, a trip to the courthouse usually conjures negative feelings and problems -- paying parking and traffic fines, jury duty summons, and a medical bankruptcy over a decade ago. But this was a largely interesting, pleasurable experience -- getting to know a

HANOVER, NH – On Wednesday, The Centrist Project announces its endorsement of two Independent candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives: Martin Babinec of New York (NY-22) and Alan LaPolice of Kansas (KS-1). The Centrist Project is the leading national organization working to break the partisan hold on the U.S. Congress by promoting the election of Independent, centrist Senators and House Members to bring common-sense, effective leadership to Washington. The Centrist Project has also end