04-08-2025
Seattle to vote on renewing Democracy Voucher Program
The future of Seattle's Democracy Voucher Program is on Tuesday's ballot, as voters decide whether to renew the public campaign financing system for 10 more years.
The big picture: Supporters of Seattle's first-in-the-nation voucher program say it allows more people to participate in politics, while opponents argue that too few people use the system to justify its cost.
How it works: Seattle residents get four $25 vouchers each election cycle, which they can donate to candidates who opt to participate in the program.
Most Seattle candidates this year are accepting the vouchers, which come with fundraising and spending limits.
A citywide property tax has raised $3 million annually to pay for the program over the past decade, costing the average Seattle property owner about $8 per year, per city estimates.
The latest: If approved Tuesday, Proposition 1 will increase the tax slightly, generating $4.5 million yearly, or $45 million over 10 years.
The owner of an $864,000 home — the median assessed value in Seattle this year — would pay $13 a year, about $5 more than under the existing levy.
What they're saying: Program supporters say it has broadened the city's pool of political donors and encouraged more people to run for office by reducing financial barriers.
"Today, campaign donors better reflect the diversity of our city, by income, race, age, and neighborhood," King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said in a video voter guide statement supporting Prop. 1.
The other side: Less than 5% of Seattleites used their vouchers in 2023, which opponent Ari Hoffman, a local talk radio host, says reflects a lack of interest in the program.
"Seattle is one of the most expensive cities in America, and yet our city government is forcing you to pay a special tax just to fund political campaigns," Hoffman said in the video voter guide.
