Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program, whereas designed to scale back the affect of huge cash in politics, has an unintended consequence: It could possibly assist pro-business candidates obscure their ties to particular pursuits.
Mayor Bruce Harrell says this system “goals to extend participation, scale back the affect of huge cash in politics and make town’s elections extra accessible and clear.” However impartial expenditures undermine these objectives.
I spent six months engaged on native campaigns in 2024 and noticed this dynamic firsthand. Candidates can run on equity-centered platforms and tout their use of democracy vouchers, whereas impartial teams spend tens of 1000’s to spice up them. These candidates profit from the looks of grassroots assist, whilst they’re propped up by darkish cash.
In components of Seattle the place company affect is met with skepticism, the voucher program unintentionally shields candidates from scrutiny. It permits them to sidestep accountability and dilutes the ability of equity-driven campaigns.
Seattle should go additional to actually scale back the affect of huge cash. With out actual limits on impartial expenditures, the Democracy Voucher Program dangers turning into a instrument for candidates to have it each methods — publicly anti-corporate and privately bankrolled.
Kai Seidenberg, Seattle
