IRV

             Election/IRV Working Group
             Election, Ben Kjelshus   (816) 767-8873 or   BKjelshus@aol.com
             Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)
                      Ruth Lee (816) 523-3995 or lee3@sunflower.org

ELECTION REFORM WORKING GROUP
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 7PM
WALDO LIBRARY, 201 E 75th ST, KCMO

While the No Stolen Elections campaign was unsuccessful in stopping another rigged election, we are encouraged there is a national movement developing that is committed to work on the issue of electoral justice. We need a local group to be part of that national movement; and we need state election reform groups. We know our democracy depends on fair, open elections. The stakes are high.

Our agenda will include:

^ A report on the successful Nashville conference "Gathering to Save Our

Democracy --National Election Reform" held last weekend, April 8 - 10.

27 states involved. It's encouraging to witness the emergence of a national

movement dealing with restoring electoral justice.

Ben will display the workings of a computer disk which will show how a

touch tone computer voting machine can switch a vote form Kerry to Bush.

^ Reports by local activists working on the issue of election reform in

Missouri. This will include a report on the "Show Me the Vote" project

^ Take steps to form an Election Reform Working Group. This group would have

working ties with the KC Greens, the local chapter of Reclaim Democracy

and possibly other organizations.

Instant runoff voting is a winner-take-all, voting system that ensures a winning candidate will receive an absolute majority of votes rather than a simple plurality. IRV eliminates the need for runoff elections by allowing voters to rank their candidates in order of preference.

IRV is not a form of full representation or proportional representation, but the Choice Voting method of full representation relies on a similar method of casting and counting ballots.