How is IRV different from what Kansas City currently uses for local elections?
Currently Kansas City uses a two-round runoff system to elect its local officeholders. A primary is held in February, followed by the general election between the top two finishers in March. This system of two separate elections costs taxpayers millions of dollars, and often leads to extremely low voter turnout – only 18% in the February 2007 primary. With IRV, candidates win by gaining a majority of voter support, but IRV produces final results in a single election, eliminating the need for the second election.
