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Before this month, Seattles democracy vouchers were just an idea. Now candidates are knocking on doors to gather them up.

When a Seattle City Council candidate showed up at Carlos Garcias door on a Saturday last month and asked for his democracy vouchers, he was a little surprised.

Garcia recalled voting in 2015 for a ballot measure creating the vouchers, and a package from the city had just come in the mail. But he was fuzzy on the details.

I dont even really know how the program works, said Garcia, 46, standing on the front porch of his Beacon Hill home with the council candidate, Jon Grant.

Youre asking for my vouchers, and Im like, Do I have one? Do I have four? Do I tear it off like a coupon and hand it to you? Is that how it works? Garcia said.

His confusion was understandable. Seattle is the first city in the country to finance campaigns with taxpayer-funded vouchers, and the program is launching this year.

Voters authorized the program when they passed Initiative 122, authorizing a 10-year, $30 million property-tax levy to pay for the vouchers.

Last month, the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission mailed each of the citys registered voters four $25 vouchers to distribute to candidates in 2017.

There are races this year for the councils two citywide seats and for city attorney. Theres also a race for mayor, but the vouchers wont be allowed in that contest this time around.

Voters can return their vouchers to the commission directly (by mail, email, fax or in person) or to candidates (by mail or in person) for relaying to the commission. Doing nothing with the vouchers is OK, too.

To become eligible to collect the vouchers, candidates must pledge to take part in debates, agree to lower campaign-contribution limits and agree to campaign-spending caps.

To qualify to actually receive the funds that the vouchers represent, candidates must gather a baseline number of small donations.

Incumbent City Attorney Pete Holmes last week became the first candidate to qualify.

The commission will be releasing the funds to qualified candidates at least twice a month.

Proponents say the program will get more people involved in local politics and help less-known candidates compete against candidates backed by wealthy donors.

Thats what Grant is counting on. The housing activist, who lost in 2015 when he challenged incumbent Councilmember Tim Burgess, is running again for Position 8.

Burgess isnt seeking re-election this time around, but Grant considers himself an underdog still. He says he wont take any campaign contributions from corporations.

Were funding our campaign on small donations and democracy vouchers, the candidate told Garcia. Thats why were going door to door to ask for your support.

Grant is eligible to collect the vouchers but not yet qualified to receive the donations they represent.

Other Position 8 candidates collecting vouchers include Sheley Secrest, Teresa Mosqueda, Ryan Asbert, Mac McGregor and Roger Kluck.

Persuading voters to part with their vouchers so far ahead of time is challenging. The primary election isnt until August and the general election isnt until November.

Most voters are recovering from last years election rather than thinking about 2017. But Grant wants to snag as many vouchers as possible before too many are replaced and tossed away.

The commission is working on a replacement-voucher form, but it isnt ready yet.

Youre asking people to make a decision to support someone way before they normally have to make that decision, Grant said.

But these vouchers arent votes. Theyre a means to support grass-roots candidates. We need to get started early so we can build up the resources to go up against corporate-backed candidates.

Garcia didnt give Grant any vouchers, nor did his husband, James Harris.

The Pioneer Square business owner thanked the candidate for going door to door. But he expressed skepticism about the vouchers program, calling it provincial.

Im hoping it will work, get more people involved, Harris said. Well see how it plays out. But right now, it just seems hokey.

Grant is seeing some success, however. In his first week, he collected about $8,000 in vouchers, he says.

Kashina Groves, 32, and her husband, Apu Mishra, 40, assigned all eight of their vouchers to Grant. Theyd seen a reminder from him on Facebook.

So I didnt just dump them in the recycling, Groves said.

One of Grants strategies is to ask for at least one voucher, if not all four. Thats what worked with Rupert Berk in the same neighborhood where Grant visited Garcia.

The candidate is targeting areas he won in 2015, such as Beacon Hill.

Berk, 47, reacted positively when Grant described his views on affordable housing but initially balked when the candidate asked for his vouchers.

Im probably going to do more research, he said.

So Grant tried again: I know you want to do your research, but were just trying to get off the ground. Would you support us with just one just $25 at no cost to you?

Berk thought for a few beats. Then he relented, shrugging his shoulders.

Sure, he replied.

See more here:
Seattle candidates already on hunt for 'democracy vouchers' - The Seattle Times