From Gabi Muña/Yes on Prop 1 Seattle Volunteer
As a recent graduate of Seattle University, I spent much of my time there thinking about how decisions made by people in power directly shape our lives – from the cost of getting around this city to whether my friends and neighbors can afford to stay here. But like many young people, I grew up feeling that real influence in politics belonged to people with money, not someone like me. That changed when I used Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program.
I first got involved in local politics through the Washington Bus, an organization that helps young people fight political apathy. It opened my eyes to how much was at stake for communities like mine, and how easy it is to be pushed to the margins if you aren’t paying attention. Still, even after that, I didn’t see myself as someone who could truly shape an election. I’m a law student now, and money is tight. Like many students and working people in Seattle, I couldn’t justify cutting into my budget just to donate to a campaign.
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Then I received my democracy vouchers in the mail. They were a chance to support a candidate who shared my priorities, like funding public transportation – something I rely on daily. I didn’t have to worry that using those vouchers would take away from rent or groceries. It might sound small, but it made a huge difference. For the first time, I felt like my voice mattered in how this city is run.
I’m not alone. Since Seattle voters approved this program nearly a decade ago, more than 105,000 residents have used democracy vouchers, many of them first-time donors like me. Studies show that when people use their vouchers, they’re not just giving to a campaign. They’re more likely to vote and to keep voting in local elections, even if they were infrequent voters before. It’s helping turn passive residents into active participants, exactly what a healthy democracy needs.
The program has also transformed who can afford to run for office. Since democracy vouchers launched, Seattle has seen an 86% increase in the number of candidates per race. More women, people of color, and young people are stepping forward to run competitive campaigns, which means voters like me have more choices and hear new voices on the ballot.
And it’s changing how campaigns are funded. Since the program began, donations of $400 or more have gone from 60% of campaign funds to 14%. Donations from outside Seattle have plunged too. That means candidates spend more time talking with regular voters instead of chasing big checks from a few wealthy donors. It’s a shift I feel personally. When someone I support gets elected, I know their campaign was powered by people like me.
Now, we have a chance to keep this going. Prop 1 on the August ballot isn’t asking us to try something new. It simply renews the existing property tax that funds democracy vouchers for another ten years. For the average homeowner, that comes to about $13 a year. It’s a small investment to maintain a system that is already working and that has made Seattle’s elections more fair and inclusive.
I understand people’s frustration with city politics. Many Seattleites feel we’re not making progress fast enough on big challenges. But letting this program lapse would only make it harder to hold local leaders accountable. Without it, the power we’ve shifted back to everyday residents could easily slide back into the hands of a few large donors and outside interests.
Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program helped me find my place in the democratic process. It’s helped thousands of others do the same, turning more of us into engaged voters and amplifying voices that too often go unheard. This August 5, I’m voting Yes on Prop 1 to make sure we keep building a democracy that includes all of us.
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