Search query: california

California voters could soon see major systemic changes made to the state’s recall process for governor. A new bill introduced in the California Legislature would change how candidates qualify for the recall ballot and calls for a new voting method that is fairer to all voters. Independent Assemblymember Chad Mayes introduced AB 2161 to address one of the most glaring and controversial problems with the current recall process: If a governor is recalled, the person who replaces him or her can wi

It doesn’t seem like there is much these days that can unite Republicans and Democrats. However, one thing both parties have consistently agreed on is that nothing should threaten their grip on power. The current electoral process is designed to serve the interests of the dominant two parties and their members. If there is a reform that threatens to upset the apple cart, it will encounter resistance from those who have the most to lose from a fairer, more equitable process. This will include l

In an email sent to supporters, former President Donald Trump issued a statement in support of proposed legislation in Wyoming, SF0097, which would shut voters not affiliated with the two major parties out of taxpayer-funded primary elections. It’s a position that runs in stark contrast to the populist approach he ran on in 2016 and 2020. “This critically important bill ensures that the voters in each party will separately choose their nominees for the general election, which is how it should b

California voters should not have to choose between their right to vote and their right to associate (or not associate) with a private political party. Yet, the Independent Voter Project (IVP) is arguing in court that this is the exact choice the state is unlawfully forcing on millions of citizens. IVP, along with 6 California voters, filed an opening brief with the Fourth Appellate District Court of California on January 20 as part of an ongoing lawsuit that calls out California’s use of a sem

The Alaska Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a voter-approved law that ends party primaries in the state, adds ranked choice voting to general elections, and shines a light on dark money in the state. Here is what you need to know: In 2020, a majority of Alaska voters approved a comprehensive election reform bill that changed the state’s primary to the nation’s first nonpartisan top-four system. This means all voters and candidates participate on a single primary ballot, regardless of party. T

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared on The Fulcrum and has been republished on IVN with permission from the publisher. ‍ Voters in Clark County, Wash., will get the opportunity in 2022 to decide whether to move to ranked-choice voting for future elections. The county’s Charter Review Commission, which is empowered to put initiatives on the ballot, voted Tuesday to move forward with an RCV proposal after surveying residents. Clark, the fourth largest county in Washington, is the s

Pro-voter reformers are gearing up for another massive revolt against the US’s duopolistic political system. At a time when millions are disillusioned with the state of democracy in the country, they offer voters a message of hope. The National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR) is hosting its annual summit on Friday, December 10, at 2 pm EST to celebrate reform victories in 2021 and prepare for new efforts in the 2022 midterms. Due to the ongoing state of the COVID-19, the summit wil

A majority of young people look at the US political system and they do not see a true democratic process. A new Harvard Youth Poll found that many Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 believe the system is “in trouble” or has failed entirely. The poll, from the Harvard University Kennedy School's Institute of Politics (IOP), found that only 7% of young adults believe the US has a “healthy democracy,” including 5% of independent and unaffiliated voters in this age group. Further, young peo

Reformers in California face a monumental challenge: Can a large coalition of diverse and sometimes opposing perspectives on the most important way to improve elections put their differences aside and bring ranked choice voting to San Diego? A new campaign is about to launch to show voters it's more than possible. Arguably the biggest struggle that has weighed down the pro-voter reform movement over the last several years is engaging in and mending the disputes over reform preferences and goal

Bryan is joined by Jon Switalski, Executive Director of Rebuild SoCal to talk infrastructure improvement and the problems that affect the supply chain delays in California. (Originally aired 22Oct21) ‍