Equal participation
Every voter, regardless of party, deserves an equally meaningful vote in every election.
About
Elections should serve all voters, not just the parties.
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The Independent Voter Project is a national, nonpartisan election reform organization founded in 2006.
The Independent Voter Project is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) that re-engages voters and promotes election reform through initiatives, litigation, and voter education. Founded by former elected officials and policy professionals, it authored California's Top-Two primary and leads work on open primaries, More Choice Voting, and Super PAC limits.
Who is the Independent Voter Project for?
It is for voters, especially the tens of millions who do not identify with a political party and want fairer access and more choice in elections. Its approach has three prongs: inform everyday voters, engage policy leaders, and reform elections.
“The right to vote derives from citizenship. Not by joining a political party.”
What IVP stands for
Challenge the gatekeepers
IVP challenges institutional rules that insulate major parties from competition.
Public elections, public interest
Taxpayer-funded elections should serve the public, not private political parties.
- Remain steadfastly nonpartisan and nonideological.
- Balance populist sentiment with practical public policy.
- Be straightforward and transparent about who it is and what it stands for.
- Be willing to be wrong and correct mistakes openly.
The board
All board members serve as volunteers.
Dan Howle
Chairman and Executive Director
A University of Massachusetts graduate who spent 16 years as Director of State Government Relations for Eli Lilly and Company. He co-founded IVP in 2006.
Mario Munoz
Board Member
A 1985 University of Texas at Austin graduate and Texas legislative consultant for over 25 years, with deep knowledge of bipartisan policy development.
Laiza Negrete
Board Member
VP of Political Affairs for the California Association of REALTORS, representing over 200,000 members.
Why this site exists
To make open primaries easier to discover. This site explains what open primaries are, which states have them, and how to support them, then points to More Choice Voting and Super PAC limits. For full details, visit independentvoterproject.org, or start with the open primaries overview.
Common questions
- What is the Independent Voter Project?
- The Independent Voter Project is a national, nonpartisan election reform organization founded in 2006. It works to give voters more choices and better representation through open primaries for every voter, More Choice Voting, and limits on Super PACs, using legal action, policy research, ballot initiatives, and grassroots organizing.
- Is the Independent Voter Project partisan?
- No. IVP is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) social welfare organization that does not endorse candidates. It is funded by more than 4,200 individual donors from across the political spectrum, including Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, and independents.
- Did IVP write California's Top-Two primary?
- Yes. IVP authored Proposition 14, which California voters passed in 2010. It replaced closed partisan primaries with a single nonpartisan ballot where the top two finishers advance regardless of party. Nearly 40 million Californians now take part in a primary that does not require party membership.
- Are donations to IVP tax-deductible?
- No. Because IVP is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, contributions are not tax-deductible as charitable donations. That structure lets IVP author ballot measures, file lawsuits, and advocate for structural election reform. IVP says its IRS determination letter is available on request through its contact page.
- How do I contact the Independent Voter Project?
- Email contact@independentvoterproject.org for general, media, and partnership inquiries, or call (619) 207-4618 during normal business hours, Pacific time. Mail goes to PO Box 34431, San Diego, CA 92163. IVP typically responds within 2 to 3 business days, and within 24 hours for urgent media requests.
Start with open primaries.
Signing the open primaries petition takes about 30 seconds. Then explore More Choice Voting, the reform that builds on it.