Ivess was one of the original nine councillors of the Ashburton Borough Council in September 1878. He was beaten by Hugo Friedlander for the Ashburton mayoralty in November 1879. Ivess contested the electorate in South Canterbury in the against Cathcart Wason and Charles Purnell. Ivess petitioned against Wason's election win on numerous grounds. The election petitions court started hearing the case in February 1882. Members were sworn in on 18 May 1882 for the first session of the 8th Parliament. Wason was not present. On the following day, the results of the various election petitions were read out, and the 1881 Wakanui election was declared void. Wason lost his seat in Parliament without having ever taken it. A 16 June 1882 by-election was held, which was contested by Alfred Saunders and Ivess. Ivess and Saunders received 604 and 541 votes, and Ivess was thus declared elected.