Election Reform - Independent Voter News (Page 12)

Cumulative Voting: The Little-Known Reform That Could Crack Open America’s Two-Party Lock

Cumulative voting is another alternative to winner-take-all elections that has far more American uses today and is the one such alternative with a history in state legislative elections.

By Rob Richie

June 5, 2026

Ballot being cast. In the reform debate, cumulative voting and other systems based on voting for candidates deserve more attention.

New Mexico’s First Semi-Open Primary Exposed the Cost of Locking Voters Out

In 2026, more than 37,000 independent voters in New Mexico made history—a number that is more significant than one might think.

By Shawn Griffiths

June 4, 2026

New Mexico Capitol Building. New Mexico held its first semi-open primary election on June 2, and 37,000 independent voters participated.

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.

6 States Vote June 2. Independent Voters Don’t Have the Same Rights in Any of Them.

June 2 primary elections are being held in several states across the US. And when it comes to independent voters and their rights, none of them have the same rules.

By Shawn Griffiths

June 1, 2026

independent voters facing different June 2 primary election rules in California, Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

New Mexico Independents Finally Get a Primary Vote — And They’re Using It Where It Counts

The media reports that nearly 80% of independent voters who participated in early voting picked a Democratic ballot. What the story missed, however, was why.

By Shawn Griffiths

June 1, 2026

New Mexico Independents Finally Get a Primary Vote — And They’re Using It Where It Counts

The Fight Over Open Primaries Is Now a Fight Over Who Owns Democracy

Something big is happening in the debate over open primaries - and the political narrative this primary election season is changing fast.

By Jeremy Gruber

May 29, 2026

The narrative on open primaries is changing. It is becoming the conversation on democracy and election reform.

Congress Finally Notices the Gerrymandering War Politicians Started

A bipartisan group of House members says it wants to stop politicians from choosing their voters — but the real test is whether Congress can act before the map-rigging arms escalates again.

By Shawn Griffiths

May 28, 2026

Congress Finally Notices the Gerrymandering War Politicians Started

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.

California Voters Don’t Like Either Party. Good Thing the Primary Doesn’t Belong to The Parties.

With ballots already in voters’ hands, the June 2 primary is testing whether California’s independent-minded electorate understands how much power it has.

By Shawn Griffiths

May 25, 2026

Californians are voting in the June 2 primary, and the message they have is that they are not happy with either party.

Report: California Has Tried Ranked Choice Voting for 20 Years. The Scare Tactics Don’t Hold Up.

A new FairVote report finds RCV cities in California have saved money, increased participation in decisive elections, and elected more women and candidates of color.

By Shawn Griffiths

May 22, 2026

Report: California Has Tried Ranked Choice Voting for 20 Years. The Scare Tactics Don’t Hold Up.

Locked Out at the Polls: Pennsylvania’s 1.5 Million Independents Demand a Voice

Independent voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh showed up at polling places across Pennsylvania on Tuesday with a simple message: stop locking 1.5 million voters out of taxpayer-funded elections. But there's more!

By Jeremy Gruber

May 22, 2026

Independent voters showed up at the polls during the Pennsylvania primary to protest their exclusion in taxpayer-funded elections.