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LEGAL WORK

We don't just advocate for reform. We write it into law — and win in court.

IVP's legal work is the engine behind every reform we pursue. We author legislation, build the constitutional framework, and defend it in court. Our track record isn't theoretical — it's precedent.

3
major legal victories
40M
voters protected by our precedent
15+
years of election law expertise
50
states that can build on our framework
Our Approach

Reform without legal durability is just a press release.

Most reform efforts focus on advocacy and public pressure. IVP starts there too — but we go further. We author the actual legislation, build the constitutional argument, and defend it when the inevitable legal challenges come. That's what separates reform that lasts from reform that gets struck down.

Every case we've fought has strengthened the legal foundation for nonpartisan elections. Each precedent makes the next reform harder to challenge and easier to replicate in other states.

Legal Playbook
1

Author Legislation

Draft reform with constitutional backing from day one

2

Pass It

Build coalitions, pass reform, win at the ballot

3

Defend It

When opponents sue, we're ready — and we win

4

Expand the Precedent

Each victory creates legal groundwork for the next state

40M+
voters in open primaries
Both Passed
Authored Initiatives

Authored Initiatives

We don't just support reform — we write it. IVP has authored ballot measures that changed how elections work in California and San Diego, and the legal groundwork we built continues to protect those wins.

IVP authored California's Proposition 14 — the nation's first statewide Top-Two open primary
San Diego Measure K opened city elections to all voters regardless of party
Both initiatives survived multiple federal legal challenges
6
federal cases filed & defended
Active
In the Courtroom

In the Courtroom

When reform passes, the establishment fights back. We defend every win in court — and we challenge systems that lock voters out. Our legal record spans offense and defense at every level of the judiciary.

Cases filed in NJ, CA, FL, and NY challenge exclusionary taxpayer-funded primaries
Polelle v. Florida advanced voter rights to a Supreme Court petition
IVP defeated two separate federal challenges to California's Top-Two primary
Timeline

A decade of legal work

2010Proposition 14 authored and passed
2016Level the Playing Field v. FEC — first amicus
2014Rubin v. Bowen — won
2019Boydston v. Padilla — presidential primary challenge
2025Polelle v. Florida SoS — SCOTUS pending
2016Level the Playing Field v. FEC — first amicus
2012Boden v. Secretary of State — won
2014Rubin v. Bowen — won

Legal reform is expensive.
Help fund the next case.

Your donation directly funds the legal action that makes reform durable. Every precedent we set protects voters in every state that follows.