Election reform advocates have been scratching their heads over the failure of statewide candidates in California to tap into the rich vein of independent voters empowered by the nonpartisan top-two primary. Even the leading nonpartisan candidates on the ballot, Steve Poizner for Insurance Commissioner and Lt.

That should be the title of a recent Fast Company article entitled, "How the DNC Is Trying To Prevent A Repeat Of 2016’s Hack."

"The committee, along with organizations on both sides of the aisle, is focusing on the basics of cybersecurity as they prepare for the midterms and 2020," the article is subtitled.

Are they focusing on the basics of integrity, fairness, and neutrality in facilitating their party's nomination processes as well?

Peter Smith is an independent candidate running in Colorado State Senate District 32. He is the youngest candidate running for state office and would be the youngest member of the state legislature if elected in November.

Peter is a Millennial -- a label most candidates his age would treat as an albatross around their necks. Not Peter. He embraces the label "Millennial" as much as his "independent" political identification.

Millennials, from his perspective, are leading the independent revolution against the two-party duopoly.

Last week, President Trump shocked some by taking the safe road and nominating the acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie to fill the role permanently.

The latest Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) poll shows very clearly that none of the campaign pros spending millions in campaigns for Republican and Democratic candidates for Governor understand independent voters or see any value in learning about them.

There is so much history being made in the independent and reform movements in 2018 that it is almost impossible to keep up with it all.

Unite New Mexico, a partner of Unite America, announced Thursday its first two endorsements for independent candidates running for the New Mexico Legislature in 2018.

There are not many people happy with Congress or politicians in general these days. Voters tend to have a higher opinion of cockroaches. However, what these voters don't see are the efforts going on right now to make the political environment in and out of DC better for voters and the nation.

Are you a California citizen? Did you miss the registration deadline to vote in the June primaries? Well, don't worry, because there is still a way you can cast a ballot in the primary elections.

California offers a new option called conditional voter registration.

What makes it conditional, you ask? Here is what you need to know:

"I don't recall this ever happening."~ Michael Vu, San Diego County Registrar of Voters

County Registrar Michael Vu has seen a lot in his time as County Registrar, but when considering the possibility that the SoccerCity and SDSU West initiatives might be removed from the November General election ballot after each gathered enough valid signatures and were directed to be placed on the ballot by the San Diego City Council, even Vu was left to ponder the unique nature of this.

Reuters yesterday issued survey findings that showed, for the first time in the Trump presidency, that voters would prefer to vote for a Republican for Congress in 2018. This, of course, runs counter to the media narrative.