Austin rejects Democracy Dollars proposition

Supporters of Proposition H, which was defeated Saturday 57.2 percent to 42.7 percent, want City Council to consider ordinance language that could implement the so-called Democracy Dollars system to fund campaign finance in city elections. Council action is one possibility for a reboot of the effort led by Austinites for Progressive Reform, which could also attempt to revise the proposal and put it back in front of voters as early as 2023. Democracy Dollars would have provided city-funded vouchers of $25 to registered voters to use in support of City Council and mayoral candidates in election years. In theory, that model would lessen the impact of high-dollar donors on local elections and increase the participation of the general electorate in supporting candidates for office. Proposition H as worded received some criticism from advocates for green card holders and the formerly incarcerated, who wouldn’t have received vouchers unless Council took steps to amend the implementation of the program. Still,  supporters think the conservative makeup of the early voting electorate had the most impact on the defeat because of the alignment of those voters in favor of the successful Proposition B. “Democracy Dollars won the votes on election day, and it is a worthy idea that addresses some of the more pressing problems in our electoral system here,” said Jim Wick, campaign manager for Austinites for Progressive Reform. “It is an idea that deserves additional consideration. That could be from City Council in the form of an ordinance or pilot program. For the cost, the benefits are a great bargain.”