Election Day: Where voters head to the polls on Tuesday
Voters across various states are participating in local elections that include candidate races and ballot initiatives, one of which is Seattle’s “democracy vouchers” program. This pioneering initiative, approved by Seattle voters in 2017, provides residents with four $25 taxpayer-funded vouchers per election cycle to support preferred political candidates, aiming to increase voter participation and reduce large donor influence. On the ballot now is Proposition 1, asking whether to renew the program. supporters highlight its success in curbing big-money influence, while opponents, including the Seattle Times editorial board, argue it financially burdens property owners who have funded about $30 million over the past decade. The program reportedly costs property owners an average of $8 annually, but less than 5% of Seattle voters have used the vouchers.
Additionally, the article outlines local elections and primaries in several states, such as Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Washington. These elections cover city councils, mayoral races, legislative primaries, recall votes, and ballot initiatives, reflecting a broad spectrum of local political activity happening nationwide.
Seattle’s ‘Democracy vouchers’ on the ballot amid slate of local elections across country
Voters in states across the country head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in local elections for candidates and on certain ballot initiatives, including whether to roll back so-called “democracy vouchers” in Seattle for publicly financed campaigns.
The first-of-its-kind program came about in 2017 after Seattle voters approved a citizen-led initiative to boost election participation by giving residents four taxpayer-funded $25 vouchers each cycle to donate to their preferred political candidates.
Now, voters will decide whether to renew the program under Proposition 1, which supporters say has successfully curbed influence from large-dollar donors. But opponents, including the Seattle Times’s editorial board, say it’s become too much of a burden to property owners, who have paid some $30 million into the program over roughly the last decade.
The program says it only costs property owners an average of $8 per year. The editorial board cited less than 5% of Seattle voters who’ve used the vouchers.
Here are the other states where voters will head to the polls and what they’ll be deciding on:
Arizona
Arizona has local elections across the state, including a primary for councilmembers in Tucson and a recall for the city’s mayor.
Delaware
Delaware will have a special election for Delaware State House District 20.
Iowa
A special election will be held for the Oskaloosa City Council.
Kansas
Certain localities in Kansas will hold primaries.
Michigan
Michigan has local primaries, including a nonpartisan primary for Detroit mayor. Current Mayor Mike Duggan, a longtime Democrat, is not seeking reelection and instead running for governor as an independent. Nine candidates will appear on the ballot, and another dozen have write-in campaigns. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.
Mississippi
Primary elections will be held for state Senate and House districts as part of court-ordered redistricting. Those districts for GOP primaries include Senate Districts 1, 42, and 44; and Democratic primaries for Senate Districts 2 and 11, as well as House Districts 16 and 41.
Missouri
Missouri has local elections, including for ballot initiatives such as sales taxes.
Rhode Island
General elections will be held for Coventry Town Council Districts 3 and 5, and Senate District 4.
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South Carolina
Primaries will be held for Spartanburg County Council District 3 and Spartanburg sheriff.
Washington
In addition to voting on Proposition 1, Washington will hold its state legislature primaries, where the top two vote-getters will advance to the fall general election. Seattle will also have its nonpartisan mayoral primary featuring incumbent Democrat Bruce Harrell, who’s facing leading Democratic challenger Katie Wilson and six other candidates.
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