Chad Peace is an attorney and president of IVC Media, a binational digital communications firm that develops strategic campaigns for political, nonprofit, and corporate clients. He has worked extensiv
Commentary
A recent Independent Voter News article addressed alarms that the SAVE Act could become a vehicle for banning ranked choice voting nationwide, driven by President Donald Trump’s hostility toward mail voting and RCV and by Republican efforts to attach anti-RCV language to federal legislation.
Commentary
Immigration has always been a flashpoint in American politics. But in January 2026, it became a political liability for the White House, not just a policy debate. Interior immigration enforcement, ICE operations, and Fourth Amendment rights are now colliding in ways that are reshaping the national p
Gerrymandering
If you asked Gavin Newsom, Ben Shapiro, or Donald Trump whether they put voters first, all three would say yes. They would say it confidently. They would say it sincerely. But they aren’t being honest with themselves, or you.
California
A new Emerson College poll of California’s 2026 governor’s race confirms what many election observers have suspected. California is entering a high stakes primary season with no clear front runners, a crowded field, and an election system where the outcome often depends less on voter preference and
Gerrymandering
California Democrats are getting ready for a fight they can’t win. And taxpayers will foot the bill for the privilege.
Gerrymandering
Gerrymandering wasn’t invented by Trump. It predates most states in the union. It’s named after Elbridge Gerry, who sliced up Massachusetts in 1812 to help his party, leaving behind a district so distorted it looked like a salamander.
California
California’s nonpartisan top-two primary and independent redistricting commission are widely viewed as two of the most voter-centric reforms in modern American politics. Yet new polling in the field suggests a push to roll both reforms back, and the strategy behind that effort is telling.
Independent Voters
Ranked choice voting keeps winning headlines. New York City uses it in primaries, Maine uses it statewide, Alaska uses it with a nonpartisan primary, and advocates from Better Choices are pushing for more consensus.
Open Primaries
A lot of people are talking about democracy reform in New York City, especially since the implementation of ranked choice voting. But while ranked choice voting in party primaries is novel, let’s be honest: it’s not “small-d” democratic. The fact is, the general election still uses a plurality votin
Corrections
Last week, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials announced the sudden passing of Annie Covarrubias, a correctional officer at the Correctional Training Facility (CTF) in Soledad. She was 35 years old. In the words of her colleagues, Annie was a “dependable, profess
California
While healthcare in California has seen massive investments in coverage and access, these gains often mean little to border residents who split time, family, or even residency across two countries
Independent Voters
Independence means different things to different people. For us, it means more than rejecting party lines; it means thinking for yourself, being accountable to principles and constituents, and resisting the pressures of partisan orthodoxy.