5 things you need to know about the democracy vouchers in your mailbox

If you live in the city of Seattle, you’ve probably noticed something called “democracy vouchers” in your mailbox.

Those vouchers represent a major change from how city election campaigns have been funded in the past. They're an alternative to traditional cash contributions to candidates for public office.

Voters approved to fund the program with a 10-year, $30 million property tax levy in 2015.

This is only the second time Seattle has used vouchers in an election, and this time there are more than five times as many candidates participating than the first time around.

This kind of funding mechanism is likely to have a big influence on this year's elections, so here’s what you need to know:

1.

Registered voters get four $25 vouchers to donate to the campaign of a candidate of their choice. If you aren't a registered voter, you have to ask in order to receive.

2.Most political donors are middle-aged, wealthy, and white. But the first time Seattle used the vouchers, in 2017, more people who were young, older or low-income sent vouchers to candidates than donated cash.

Still, voucher users were more likely to be white than Seattle’s population as a whole.

“This year, we’re redoubling our efforts to bring new people into the process with outreach to some of Seattle’s more historically underserved communities,” said Wayne Barnett, the executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission who oversees the voucher program.

3.Only candidates who follow certain rules can receive vouchers. They have to collect 150 $10 contributions before they can receive any vouchers. And they have to limit their total spending, participate in three debates and agree to a lower individual contribution limit.

Only six candidates participated in 2017. This year, more than 30 have pledged to participate.

City Council Member Kshama Sawant is not participating; she told The Stranger that the program is "not designed for a race like ours where Amazon and the whole big business establishment is united against us."

Check here to see which candidates have pledged to participate.

4.

If you’re a registered voter or asked for vouchers, you should have received them by now. If not, you can get in touch with the program.

Also, it’s not too late to ask for vouchers.

5.People are suing to get democracy vouchers thrown out. The libertarian law firm Pacific Legal Foundation has challenged the program in court, saying it violates the First Amendment.

The case heads to the Washington State Supreme Court this year.