It is no coincidence that as the nation witnesses an explosion in pro-voter reform successes, partisan state lawmakers across the country are trying to undermine citizen initiatives, and block nonpartisan primary reform and new voting methods designed to give people more choice.

Editor's Note: The following op-ed was authored by Kevin Johnson and Alexander Vanderklipp.

The New York Libertarian (LPNY) and Green Parties (GPNY) have petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear their case challenging state election rules designed by the major parties to knock third parties off the ballot. The scheme was so successful that every third party that doesn't nominate major party candidates lost their ballot access status statewide.

For a state that claims to lead the nation in voter rights, California’s presidential primary rules are a study in hypocrisy.

The California Constitution requires that all elections for partisan office be conducted in open nonpartisan primaries with the top two vote getters advancing to the general election. California’s presidential primary rules, however, are different. This is because, unlike races for governor, the legislature, and Congress, presidential primary voters are not selecting actual nominees.

The Independent Voter Project continues to foster conversations and exchanges with the Politic Deli podcast. Dan Howle continues his heralded public service career with honest and open conversations with policy makers past and present. Politic Deli provides a bridge to the partisan communication gap by re-establishing civil exchange.

Open Primaries hosted a virtual discussion with civil rights leader, businessman, educator, and author Dr. Benjamin Chavis, who recently was appointed co-chair of the No Labels, a group that has attempted to bring together Republicans and Democrats under shared principles.

Voters added or expanded the use of ranked choice voting (RCV) in two US cities in the same week this month:  Redondo Beach, California, and Burlington, Vermont. 

An overwhelming majority of Redondo Beach citizens voted to add their city to the 6 California cities already using RCV (Albany, Berkeley, Oakland, Palm Desert, San Francisco, and San Leandro) and Eureka, which will use RCV for the first time in 2024. 

Notable Republican and Democratic leaders in Rhode Island have come together to change how the state conducts its primary elections. The effort, called the People’s Primary, seeks to bring more competition and participation in state elections.

“It has become obvious over the years that our primary elections are the most important in defining how we will be governed. The results over the last decade have indicated very serious problems,” said Hassenfeld Center for Leadership Founder Gary Sasse, during an interview for IVN.