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  • Black women legislators are rare in statehouses. This could be the solution.

    September 25, 2020 |

    The 19th |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Washington

    A newly established PAC in Washington state aims to increase the likelihood of Black women being elected to Washington State Legislature by eliminating the financial barrier that often impedes candidates from running their campaigns on an equal playing field. Although it is yet to be seen how the elections will turn out, the PAC has already succeeded in fundraising over $200,000 and distributing those funds to various campaigns.

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  • REDMAP

    September 23, 2020 |

    NPR |

    Radio |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States

    The Redistricting Majority Project, or REDMAP, used a sophisticated mapping technology and fund-raising strategy to flip 21 states' legislatures from Democratic to Republican control after the 2010 Census. That campaign, which poured money into hundreds of local elections to affect the outcomes, made a major impact on partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts in the following years, and on state policymaking. With the Supreme Court's refusal to block such tactics, the post-2020 Census promises to feature even more partisan manipulation of districts and local elections.

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  • Ranked Choice Voting Gains Traction For 2020

    January 10, 2020 |

    Yes! Magazine |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United Arab Emirates, Maine

    Already adopted in eighteen cities and five states, ranked choice voting, a system where voters rank candidates running in an election from their first to last choice, is growing in popularity across the United States. Those states and municipalities that have ranked choice voting claim that this system is fairer and more democratic and the electorate is more satisfied as a result.

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  • City Campaign Finance System Charts Path—and Highlights Challenges—for State Reform

    October 09, 2019 |

    City Limits |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    New York City's campaign finance system has offered a blueprint for a similar statewide system. Since it was implemented, the city's campaign finance program, which awards public funds up to a certain limit to candidates, has helped grassroots candidates launch competitive campaigns against entrenched, deep-pocketed opponents.

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  • These voters are using democracy vouchers to influence Seattle's City Council races

    June 12, 2019 |

    The Seattle Times |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    In Seattle, taxpayers are funding a program called democracy vouchers, in which registered voters and other eligible residents receive $25 vouchers that they can contribute toward city council races. In this program unique to Seattle, each donor can contribute up to four vouchers, which are helping to diversify the field for grassroots candidates.

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  • Seattle's radical plan to fight big money in politics

    November 05, 2018 |

    Vox |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    Seattle tripled the number of people who contributed to local political campaigns by giving each resident $100 in “democracy vouchers” to contribute to the candidate of their choice. The concept was to counter the effect of big money in politics. Although the program was a widely popular idea, it ended up being expensive to run and only 3.3 percent of residents who received the vouchers actually used them.

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  • The Seattle Experiment

    November 02, 2018 |

    NPR |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    Seattle’s “Democracy Vouchers,” funded by a ballot measure to increase property taxes, provide money for residents to make campaign contributions, which increases civic participation and helps people running for office without political connections fund their campaigns. Every city resident receives four 25$ vouchers that they can sign over to the candidate of their choice and mail back in a pre-stamped envelope. Even though only 3% of vouchers were actually used, the number of people contributing to campaigns tripled and several non-establishment candidates were able to run campaigns and get elected.

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  • More Cities Want to Embrace ‘Democracy Vouchers'

    August 08, 2018 |

    Bloomberg CityLab |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

    Seattle residents receive cash vouchers to contribute to local campaigns of their choosing. The taxpayer-funded program aims to broaden political participation and counter the influence of big donors. The idea is spreading to other cities, including Albuquerque and Austin.

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  • How reformers beat the Koch brothers in South Dakota

    December 01, 2016 |

    Los Angeles Times |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, South Dakota

    Ninety percent of Americans believe that the political system is broken and nothing can be done. Yet in 2016, South Dakota a state with low probability for political reform became the first state in a decade to adopt public funding of future political campaigns all thanks to a grass-roots citizens movement.

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  • What Caused the Populist Earthquake of 2016

    November 28, 2016 |

    Reclaim the American Dream |

    Video |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Eastsound, Washington

    In 2016, the US had a historically large populist backlash against the political establishment. This inspired Hedric Smith to highlight where and how political reform in the US has succeeded or failed in an Orcas Current Lecture Series.

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