Don’t scream at Seattle’s new “democracy voucher” program when there are cities along the West Coast and Midwest doing it as well. Yep no matter the income, your taxes will guarantee a $100 donation “voucher” to the candidate of your or your neighbor or even the homeless guy on Main Street choice. – PB/TK
‘Democracy vouchers’ aim to amplify low-income voices, to conservative ire – By Josh Cohen / July 7 2017
If money amplifies the voices of wealthy Americans in politics, Seattle is trying something that aims to give low-income and middle-class voters a signal boost.
The city’s new ‘Democracy Voucher’ program, the first of its kind in the US, provides every eligible Seattle resident with $100 in taxpayer-funded vouchers to donate to the candidates of their choice. The goal is to incentivize candidates to take heed of a broad range of residents – homeless people, minimum-wage workers, seniors on fixed incomes – as well as the big-dollar donors who often dictate the political conversation.
This August’s primary is the trial run for the program. But before Seattle can crow about having re-enfranchised long-overlooked voters, it must contend with conservative opposition.
