On November 3, Seattle voters passed initiative I-122. See this story. The initiative provides that for city elections, all registered voters will receive four vouchers, each worth $25. The voter is free to give his or her vouchers to any candidate running in a Seattle city election for Mayor, city council, or city attorney. The measure passed with 60%.
If I lived in Seattle, what would prevent me from running for office and using all my campaign expenditures in an effort to gain vouchers?
I could host a meet-the-candidate party with free pizza and soda. Surely this is a legal expenditure so long as I don’t require a voucher in exchange for a slice of pizza, but merely give people an opportunity to use their vouchers.
Can I pay people on commission to solicit vouchers?
“Hello, is Jane Q. Public available? Hello Jane, Have you hear about John Doe, who pledges to increase the number of days that the sun shines to 25 per year, that is almost double of that under the current administration. But we need your help to get the message out. You spend all your Social Security on cat food? No problem, you can simply use the voucher you received. Can you use, your voucher for cat food? I’m sorry, if it were up to me, I’d let you spend it on cat food. I’ll bring up your suggestion with Doe. Doe cares. Thank you for the generous donation of all four vouchers.”
Why does the measure require “PAID SIGNATURE GATHERER” identification? Can Seattle distinguish between classes of gatherers?
No they really cant … This legislation was really written
back on the east coast The Brennon Institure or Something like
that.