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The Lunch @ DC with Brian McCabe
The Democracy Voucher program in Seattle was designed to broaden representation in the campaign finance system and expand participation from marginalized communities. By providing four, twenty-five dollar vouchers to every registered voter in Seattle that they could, in turn, assign to the candidate(s) of their choice, this first-in-the-nation public financing system has the potential to dramatically reshape the way local elections are funded.
In his research, McCabe evaluates whether the Democracy Voucher program increased involvement from underrepresented groups and created a more representative donor pool for local elections. And what are the insight we can glean for other cities, including Washington, DC, that are working to improve the campaign finance system through public financing.
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Brian McCabe is an associate professor of sociology at Georgetown University and an affiliated faculty member in the McCourt School of Public Policy. His first book, No Place Like Home: Wealth, Community and the Politics of Homeownership, was published in 2016. You can learn more about his research on his website, www.brianjamesmccabe.com.