California - Independent Voter News

Veteran Leader Calls CA Primary Repeal Effort a ‘Shameful’ Return to Partisan Segregation

The effort to repeal California’s Top Two primary would erase the constitutional guarantee that “all voters may vote,” sidelining more than 6 million independents as reformers push for a Top Four or Top Five alternative.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ July 15, 2026

Veteran Leader Calls CA Primary Repeal Effort a ‘Shameful’ Return to Partisan Segregation

California Quietly Changed the Rules. Thousands of Murder Cases Could Soon Be Back on the Table.

A little-noticed regulatory change creates a new process for reconsidering some of California's longest criminal sentences. Now, victims' advocates are preparing for what could become one of the state's biggest legal battles in years.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ July 15, 2026

California Quietly Changed the Rules. Thousands of Murder Cases Could Soon Be Back on the Table.

A Judge Just Ordered Huntington Beach to Give Voters More Choice

A California court’s ranked choice voting remedy is about Latino representation. But it also reflects a larger reality: election systems built around narrow political coalitions routinely leave independent voters outside the room.

By

Dan Schnur

/ July 2, 2026

Judge orders Huntington Beach to use ranked choice voting.

‘Undo The Top Two’ Crossed Out “All Voters May Vote”

They say independents can vote. Their initiative strips the constitutional guarantee that lets every voter choose any candidate they want.

By

Chad Peace

/ June 29, 2026

Right now, all voters have the right to vote in primary elections in California. It is guaranteed in the state constitution. 'Undo the Top Two' wants to take that away.

In New York, 7% of Voters Just Decided for the Other 93%

NY Partisan Primary Proves Superiority of California’s Nonpartisan Primary System.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ June 25, 2026

Person walking into a voting location for the New York primary, the turnout of which was among the lowest in the country.

The Plan to Strip 6.9 Million Californians of Voting Rights Could Haunt Politicians

Undoing Top Two means telling 6.9 million independent voters they may no longer participate in primary elections unless they sign up with a club they have already decided not to join.

By

Steve Peace

/ June 24, 2026

A picture of Bill Cavala, filled out by IVN staff to fit the necessary dimensions of a featured article image.

Don't Scrap Top-Two. Fix Its Strategic Voting Problem.

The sky didn't fall. The dreaded two-Republican scenario never materialized. Once again, Democratic fears of a top-two disaster proved unfounded.

By

John E Palmer

/ June 16, 2026

California voter headed into a polling location to vote in the June 2 Top Two primary.

The Top Two Panic Wasn’t Analysis. It Was Political Manipulation.

California voters did exactly what voters tend to do: they evaluated the candidates, coalesced around viable contenders, and produced a result broadly reflective of the state's electorate.

By

Open Primaries

/ June 3, 2026

A group of California voters cast their ballots in the June 2 Top Two primary.

Why Does It Take California So Long to Count Ballots?

California has developed a reputation for taking as long as a month to fully count its ballots. The question many have is, why? Here is what voters need to know.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ June 2, 2026

Why Does It Take California So Long to Count Ballots?

Poll: Only 22% of Latino Voters Support Return to Partisan Primaries. Becerra Big Lead for Governor.

A majority of California Latino voters say they want to keep the nonpartisan Top Two primary or modify it to advance more than two candidates to the general election. They don't want the state to go back to closed primaries.

By

IVN Editorial Board

/ May 28, 2026

California voters at the polls. A new poll shows most Latino voters want to keep nonpartisan open primaries.

How California's Top Two Nonpartisan Primary Transformed the Legislature

The system Republican and Democratic party insiders want to "undo" produced a legislature where women hold 49 percent of seats, people of color hold 55 percent, and Latinos have reached a third of the body for the first time.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ May 27, 2026

Undo the Top Two campaign to repeal Top Two, which has created more diversity in the California Legislature. Steve Maviglio, Paul Mitchell, Ron Nerhing, Carl DeMaio.

The Forces Trying to Kill 'Top Two' Can't Read Their Own Polling

A partisan pollster finds 70% support for open primaries and calls it erosion

By

IVN Editorial Board

/ May 26, 2026

Party insiders are going after California Top Two, but their arguments aren't supported by their own polling.