Election Reform - Independent Voter News (Page 8)

Ignored, Excluded, Rising: The Training Turning Independent Voters into a Political Force

Open Primaries’ Spokesperson Training has prepared hundreds of independents to share their stories. The next training is May 18. Here’s why it matters—and why you should apply.

By

Gwen Mandell

/ March 17, 2026

Ignored, Excluded, Rising: The Training Turning Independent Voters into a Political Force

John Fetterman Blasts Hypocrisy on Both Sides of the SAVE Act Fight

Fetterman has pointed out that voter ID is an "80-20 issue," citing an August 2025 Pew Research survey that found 83% of American voters support or are okay with requiring photo ID to vote.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 16, 2026

US Sen. John Fetterman has called out Republicans and members of his own party for their hypocrisy over the SAVE Act.

Paul Rieckhoff Tells Stephen Colbert: Voters Shouldn't Have to Pick a Party to Matter

Paul Rieckhoff wears many hats. He is a veteran of the Iraq War, founded Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, national security analyst, author, producer, podcaster, and founder of Independent Veterans of America.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 11, 2026

Paul Rieckhoff on The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert.

Did New Petition Rules Kill Oklahoma’s Open Primaries Initiative?

Last week, the Oklahoma campaign to put a nonpartisan all-voter and all-candidate nonpartisan primary initiative on the ballot was informed that it did not collect enough signatures to be certified. This means state voters won’t get a say on the matter in 2026.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 10, 2026

Illustration of Oklahoma ballot initiative petitions being stamped rejected.

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ranked Choice Voting for All Elections

State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Representative Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) introduced LRB-5709 on March 5, legislation that would implement ranked choice voting for state, federal, and local elections in Wisconsin.

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 10, 2026

Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ranked Choice Voting for All Elections

California’s Voter ID Initiative is Way More Chill Than Trump’s SAVE Act

A proposed California ballot initiative would amend the state constitution to add an initiative that aims to "deter and detect voter fraud by maintaining accurate voter registration records and confirming eligibility to vote..."

By

Cara Brown McCormick

/ March 10, 2026

Illustration comparing California voter ID ballot initiative with the federal SAVE Act, showing a simple voter ID check versus complex federal documentation requirements.

Should Ballots Include Political Endorsements?

At first glance, this feels like common sense. Voters walk into low-turnout municipal races and crowded primaries with almost no information. Beyond a party label – which is often meaningless in local governance – they are handed a list of names and told to decide.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 3, 2026

Close-up of a primary election ballot featuring endorsement symbols, illustrating the debate over on-ballot endorsements and voter information reform in local elections.

Don’t Kill Top Two. Upgrade It: A Smarter Way to Elect California’s Governor

The answer to today’s crowded field is not retreat. It is modernization. Instead of empowering party gatekeepers, we can empower voters with more choice, less vote splitting, and majority-supported outcomes.

By

John E Palmer

/ March 3, 2026

Demonstrators outside the California State Capitol debate the Top-Two primary system during the California governor race, highlighting election reform and voter choice issues.

No Referee in the Midterms? Trump’s FEC Nominations Come After 10 Months of Zero Federal Oversight

As February wrapped up, it was reported that President Donald Trump had nominated two Republicans for the Federal Elections Commission after 10 months of the agency being unable to perform its basic functions.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ March 2, 2026

Empty Federal Election Commission hearing room symbolizing FEC shutdown during 2026 midterms as Trump nominates new commissioners amid campaign finance oversight crisis.

America at 250: Independent Voters Declare Independence from the Two-Party System

On February 27, 2026, the better elections group Open Primaries released a sweeping public statement titled Declaration of Independents, framing the exclusion of independent voters from critical taxpayer-funded elections as the unfinished business of 1776.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ February 27, 2026

Independent voters holding a “Declaration of Independents” outside a closed primary gate near the U.S. Capitol during America’s 250th anniversary.

ABC, State of Gold, and New York Times Turn to Independent Voter Project for Expertise

It didn’t take long for our poll to get noticed not only in Sacramento, but all the way over on the East Coast where the New York Times featured it alongside other reputable pollsters like Emerson College and the Public Policy Institute of California.

By

Independent Voter Project

/ February 26, 2026

Tony Evers’ Final Mission as Governor: End Partisan Gerrymandering for Good

In his 2026 State of the State address, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced that he plans to call a special state legislative session in the Spring to put an end to partisan gerrymandering “once and for all.” And he will keep calling lawmakers into session until happens.

By

Shawn Griffiths

/ February 24, 2026

Illustration of Wisconsin congressional districts divided red and blue over a cracked chessboard, symbolizing partisan gerrymandering and redistricting reform efforts in Wisconsin.