For the public, it’s a way to get more actively involved in democracy. According to a Maplight report, 45% of contributions in the past four election cycles in Oakland have come from the top three majority white neighborhoods, and only a quarter from the six zip codes with the lowest median-household incomes. “Any Oakland resident can now have the means to donate to politicians they support regardless of their income,” Newman says.

“Historically most campaign donations to local races in Oakland come from just a few zip codes, from those who are mostly white, upper-middle class,” said District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb, who supported Measure W. “This is now an opportunity to change that dynamic to incentivize candidates for office to go after smaller contributions from all over the city.”

Oaklanders should be applauded for taking the bold step to increase accountability in their government and participation in the political process by enacting the innovative Democracy Dollars program. Cities and states across the country should implement similar programs to amplify the voices of ordinary Americans at all levels of our democracy.

The voters of Oakland, Calif., are on the way to using “Democracy Dollars” after overwhelmingly approving a plan to provide $100 in vouchers that can be used to fund local campaigns. All eligible people will receive four $25 vouchers that can be distributed to local candidates of their choice, similar to a program being used in Seattle. The program won the support of 69 percent of voters.

Oakland will also decide whether to adopt a “democracy vouchers” program for public financing of local campaigns, similar to the system for funding campaigns in Seattle.

Maybe, rather than trying to tamp down the power of special interests, voters could bolster political strength of everyday people. That’s where Measure W on the Nov. 8 ballot comes in.

As a past president and current member of the League of Women Voters, I support Oakland’s Measure W. The league has endorsed Measure W. Passing this will bring me the information I want – disclosure of top three donors on all ads for candidates or ballot measure campaigns.

This measure would give Oakland residents who are eligible to vote a chance to donate to campaigns they believe in. If it’s passed, these Oaklanders would get “democracy dollars,” or four ballots worth $25 each.

The measure would give every adult $100 in vouchers to use in elections supporting a candidate in city or school board elections.

“We should be approaching this issue locally,” said Ashley Morris of Oakland Fair Elections, during RepresentUs’ online event. “We need to develop successful, city-based models that can be replicated and create momentum for ultimate state and federal changes that are needed.”

Some cities such as Seattle are experimenting with so-called democracy vouchers in their effort to reduce the effect of big donors. These vouchers provide every voter with small amounts of money that they can use however they want to support candidates in local elections. Research indicates that this program is meeting its intended goal of diversifying the donor pool in city elections. Read more here

Proponents say Measure W will amplify the voices of everyday residents and provide an incentive for candidates to meet with residents of each neighborhood. Read more here.

74% of registered voters favor the transparency and good governance ballot measure

OAKLAND – A new poll shows huge support for Measure W, the Oakland Fair Elections Act, among voters. After reading the question on the ballot, 74% of registered voters indicated support for Measure W, with 8% of registered voters opposed, and 16% undecided. Support among likely voters was even higher, with 79% favoring Measure W.

Here in Northern California, we may believe that we are isolated and immune from this on-going assault on our freedom to vote and our power to elect and hold our leaders accountable. But while the symptoms may be more severe elsewhere, the rise of white supremacy and growing peril of political violence threatens every California resident, whether you live in Palo Alto or Petaluma, Oakland or Orinda.Read more here.

A ballot measure would create a public campaign financing option in Oakland, called "Democracy Dollars," and increase transparency of who is spending to influence city elections. Read more here.

If you feel lost trying to understand the intricacies of the progressive business tax proposal or confused by the Oakland city charter’s reference to “substitute matrons,” don’t worry. We got you.

This fall, Oakland voters will decide whether to distribute four vouchers, worth $25 each, to every city voter ahead of future elections. Oaklanders would be free to give those vouchers to candidates for mayor, city council, city attorney, city auditor or school board. Voters could split the vouchers among different campaigns, or give all four — the full $100 — to one candidate. Read more here.

Democracy vouchers can’t fix American campaigns systems. Real fixes will require major changes to our constitutional structures. But democracy vouchers can make campaigns fairer, and give everyday people greater voice in their communities

"Also this year, voters in Oakland, California will decide on a ballot measure that would create a public campaign financing option called “democracy dollars” for city candidates—a program similarly designed to increase participation in local politics and enable candidates from a wider variety of backgrounds to mount competitive campaigns for office."

If there’s one thing most voters can agree on, it’s that we’re tired of the outsized influence that big money has on candidates for elected office at every level. So what can we do about it? Read more here