-Seattle is one of the most unaffordable cities in America,
and yet our city government is forcing you
to pay a special tax just to fund political campaigns.
They call it the Democracy Voucher Program.
But in 2023,
over 95% of Seattleites didn't even use them.
Millions of your tax dollars wasted.
Since 2016,
the city has spent $6.4 million just to distribute
$9.4 million in vouchers.
That's not democracy. That's bureaucratic waste.
In the last mayoral race,
one candidate collected more vouchers than votes
and finished sixth.
His campaign spent money on personal items
like headphones and haircuts
while funneling money into his consultants' pockets.
That's not voter engagement.
That's gaming the system.
And the big money? It's still here.
In 2023,
political action committees spent
over $1 million completely overshadowing
the voucher program.
A 2017 lawsuit raised serious First Amendment concerns
with the program, and its first come, first serve nature
gives incumbents a clear advantage.
Seattle families are already being crushed
by the cost of living.
Why are they being forced to pay for a political program
that doesn't work?
If we're serious about getting big money out of politics,
let's pass real reforms like banning PAC money,
not pouring more of your money into a failing system.
It's time to end the Democracy Voucher Program
and return the money to taxpayers.