We are organizing to realize the promise of democracy for all Washingtonians.
Who We Are
People Powered Elections Washington is a statewide, multi-racial, multi-generational coalition committed to building more equitable and transparent campaign financing policies—and realizing the full promise of democracy for all of us.
-
The roots of People Powered Elections WA began in the 2010s, when a group of Seattle community and political organizers came together to advocate for election and campaign finance reform—and the establishment of a public financing program. After this volunteer-led team brought several measures increasingly close to success, new research from local institutes showed the potential of a democracy voucher system. The coalition became Honest Elections Seattle and launched a ballot initiative campaign, and In 2015 voters passed 1-122, strengthening finance laws and creating a then-unique democracy voucher program (DVP).
Now, People Powered Elections WA comprises members of this original team as well as other local organizations and community members, working on political representation and campaign finance reform in cities and areas across Washington.
Our Coalition
Fix Democracy First / The Washington Bus / Washington for Equitable Representation / League of Women Voters of Washington / Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle / Washington Community Alliance / Washington Conservation Action / RepresentUs / Washington CAN / FairVote Washington / Sightline Institute
No matter what neighborhood you live in, the color of your skin, or how much money you make, we deserve a government that works for all of us.
Our Priorities
Our coalition is working together to strengthen the voices of everyday Washingtonians in our elections and limit the influence of the wealthy and political elite by:
Amplifying the voices of Washington residents by expanding small donor financing of our elections
Addressing the impacts of big money in elections
Increasing transparency of money in state and local politics
Protecting the integrity of our elections from partisan attacks
Closing the “revolving door” of top officials becoming lobbyists
Current Projects
Seattle
-
Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program (DVP), launched in 2017 after voters passed Initiative 122, is a pioneering public campaign financing system. Created to counteract growing political inequality and to give everyday residents a stronger voice in local elections, the DVP has been successful in increasing voter turnout and civic engagement, promoting competitive elections, reducing the influence of big money in Seattle’s elections, and more.
Currently, the property tax funding the program is set to expire in 2025. With its measurable positive impacts and widespread public support, our coalition will focus on renewing the levy and keeping democracy vouchers as a powerful tool for fostering inclusion and representation in Seattle’s politics.
Statewide
-
In the Washington Democracy Coalition, we work alongside other local democracy- and civic engagement-focused organizations.
Through coordinated legislative advocacy and aligning our efforts, we are building a stronger network to defend and expand democratic, community-empowering political systems.
Join Us
We welcome new community members! Let’s build a more inclusive democracy together.
If you’re an individual who would like to learn more, please sign up for our email list. You can also support us by donating directly to any of our member groups.
For organizations interested in becoming a member of our coalition, please contact us using the form below. This is also the place for other questions, media, or partnership requests.