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U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Democracy Voucher Program

SEATTLE — The U.S. Supreme Court denied to hear a challenge to Seattle’s Democracy Voucher Program on Monday, upholding the program’s legality.

The denied petition was filed by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which was submitted in response to the Washington State Supreme Court’s unanimous upholding of the program in July 2019.

The Washington State Supreme Court's opinion rejected the Pacific Legal Foundation's First Amendment challenge, concluding the program does not "alter, abridge, restrict, censor or burden speech."

Democracy vouchers were approved by Seattle voters in November 2015, and can be given to participating candidates running for mayor, city council or city attorney.

“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.”