With the Early Success of the Democracy Voucher Program in Seattle, Washington, to Diversify the Pool of Donors, misses an important point. By Restricting “Democracy Dollars” to Eligible Voters, Four $25 Democracy Vouchers by Mail, one of our most important Constituencies is again Left Out, Young People.
According to the Pew Research Center, the Pool of Donors is Biased toward Older Voters as it is toward the Wealthy and Highly Educated. A Third of those over the age of 65 Report giving a Campaign Donation compared to less than 10% of those 18-29 years old. In Seattle, Older Voters are much more likely to use a Democracy Voucher than Younger Voters, and Minors are Not Eligible.
On Issues that are most likely to Affect Young People in the Future, from Quality Schools to Climate Change, to the Ballooning Federal Debt, Lawmakers remain Unable to find Long-Term Solutions.
This is in part because the Political Voice of Young People is Muffled until they become Eligible to Vote at age 18, and after due to Low Voter Turnout. As former Mayor Ed Koch famously quipped, “You don’t vote, you don’t count.”
Interestingly, Federal Law does Not Bar Young People from making Campaign Contributions. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court found Restrictions on Campaign Donations from Minors Unconstitutional. And Participatory Budgeting in New York City is already Open to Everyone over the age of 11.
This Opens a Window of Opportunity for New York City to continue to Innovate in the area of Equitable Campaign Finance. While the City’s existing Matching Funds Program does Not Match Donations from Minors, a New “Democracy Voucher Program for the Future” targeted at High School Students could Empower the Leaders of the City in the Decades to come.
The approximately 400,000 Students attending Public and Private New York City High Schools would receive $5 Vouchers that they could Donate to Eligible Candidates for Office. If Students were each allotted Two Vouchers, this would Generate a Pool of up to $4.4 Million.
This New Program would potentially re-orient Campaigns toward a Newly Powerful Class of Donors. Candidates would be Compelled to Articulate their Views on the Issues Young People Care about. Young People would be able to Support Candidates that Speak to their Issues and share a Vision for theirs and the Future of the City.
The Program would also serve as a Basis for High Schools to Encourage real Political Participation. We currently use their Senior year to Register to Vote, to those that will be eligible to take part in that year General Election.
If you believe in Changing the Corrupting Influence of Big Money in Politics and energizing those left Out of Politics, then you should support Empowering the City’s Young People.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
No comments:
Post a Comment