Shawn Griffiths - IVN Staging

Texas Primary Shock: Democratic Voter Turnout Surpasses Republicans

The 2026 primary elections in Texas had their fair share of excitement and controversy Tuesday night. But one thing that stood out more than anything else was the turnout. Specifically, in the Democratic primaries, which soared above the Republicans.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 4 Mar 2026

Illustration of Texas primary election turnout showing Democratic voter turnout surpassing Republican turnout in the 2026 Texas primary election.

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

/ 3 Mar 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.

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

/ 2 Mar 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

/ 27 Feb 2026

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

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

/ 24 Feb 2026

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

81% of Americans Say Money Controls Politics – Can a Constitutional Amendment Fix It?

Polls consistently show that nearly all Americans across the political spectrum agree that there is too much money in politics – whether from foreign sources, corporations, or so-called “dark money” groups.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 23 Feb 2026

Brass balance scale weighing campaign cash labeled Super PAC and Dark Money against the U.S. Constitution amendment, symbolizing campaign finance reform.

Virginia House of Delegates Passes Ranked Choice Voting Expansion

The bill, introduced by Delegate Katrina Callsen, authorizes a permanent option for ranked choice voting expansion. This allows cities and counties to implement the reform for any and/or all of their elections, including mayoral elections.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 17 Feb 2026

Virginia House of Delegates passes ranked choice voting expansion bill which will give voters a new voting option at the ballot.

Missouri Candidates Still Don’t Know Their Districts as GOP Map Faces Lawsuits and Veto Referendum Fight

Candidate filings for Congress are set to begin soon in Missouri, yet the people looking to run still have no idea which districts they will be campaigning in as multiple lawsuits against Missouri’s new congressional map have yet to be settled.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 16 Feb 2026

Missouri congressional district maps labeled HB 1 on a desk with a court gavel and February 24 filing deadline as lawsuits challenge the GOP redistricting plan.

Republican Rep Says Voter ID Should Be Mandatory – and Free

Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil says the federal government should not only mandate voter ID in federal elections, but the government should also provide these IDs for free ahead of a House vote on the SAVE America Act (H.R.7296).

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 9 Feb 2026

Republican Rep Says Voter ID Should Be Mandatory – and Free

11 Ways the MEGA Act in Congress Tries to Control How You Vote

In the final reform roundup of January, I briefly discussed a new bill in the US House that attempts to overhaul elections in every state called the Make Elections Great Again Act (or MEGA Act for short). This bill touches on everything from:

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 6 Feb 2026

11 Ways the MEGA Act in Congress Tries to Control How You Vote

Poll: Americans Reject 'Money = Speech' by Landslide; Want Power Back from Supreme Court

A new poll from American Promise shows most Americans across the political spectrum agree: Money is not speech and unlimited political spending should not be protected as such under the First Amendment.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 3 Feb 2026

Poll: Americans Reject 'Money = Speech' by Landslide; Want Power Back from Supreme Court

Republicans Pack the Court in Utah to Prevent Decisions They Don’t Like

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox will appoint two more justices to the state Supreme Court after he signed a bill into law that increases the size of the court from 5 members to 7. Notably, the change comes as the legislature is trying to restore an all-GOP congressional map.

By Shawn Griffiths

/ 2 Feb 2026

Republicans Pack the Court in Utah to Prevent Decisions They Don’t Like