The United States Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program today. The Court denied a petition for certiorari the Pacific Legal Foundation filed after the Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld the program in July 2019.
“The appellants’ path has ended, and the constitutionality of Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program is now settled,” said Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes. “Public access to elections matters, and Democracy Vouchers help give voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. I’m thankful this fight is over and proud of our resounding success in the courts.”
The Seattle City Attorney’s Office successfully defended the trailblazing Democracy Voucher program in the state court system, from the King County Superior Court through the Washington State Supreme Court.
The Washington State Supreme Court’s opinion rejected a First Amendment challenge, concluding: “The Democracy Voucher Program does not alter, abridge, restrict, censor, or burden speech. Nor does it force association between taxpayers and any message conveyed by the program. Thus, the program does not violate First Amendment rights.”
City Attorney Holmes added, “The U.S. Supreme Court did not reach the merits; it decided the case was not worth further litigation. The appellants have no second opportunity to petition the Court to review their case.”
“I want to thank the City Attorney’s Office for successfully defending the Voucher Program,” said Wayne Barnett, Executive Director of the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission. “This is a big victory for the people of Seattle, and a big victory for democracy.”
Overwhelmingly approved by voters in November 2015, Democracy Vouchers are certificates Seattle residents can give to participating candidates running for Mayor, City Council, or City Attorney.
The Democracy Voucher program is administered by the Seattle Ethics & Elections Commission. More information about Democracy Vouchers is available here: https://www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher