Seattle voters create honest-er elections

Tuesday’s election brought mostly conservative victories, but in Seattle it was the liberals who celebrated when voters adopted a plan for public campaign financing which will give every Seattle voter a Democracy Voucher.

Ever since the Supreme Court’s corporations-are-people decision, there’s this feeling that rich people control everything.

I know Donald Trump argues that it’s precisely because he is so rich that he can’t be bought, but you could also argue that’s because he already is bought.

Related: Voters favoring I-122 to publicly fund Seattle campaigns

Ah but in Seattle ordinary voters will now be empowered with Democracy Vouchers to blunt the influence of big money. Beginning next year, every registered voter in Seattle, rich or poor, will be awarded four Democracy Vouchers &#8212 are coupons worth $25 each when cashed by a qualified candidate.

Candidates who accept them will have to agree to limit themselves to small contributions &#8212 and various other restrictions, thereby guaranteeing they can’t be bought.

And there you have it, honest elections! Or at least honest-er elections.

By the way, the vouchers are not transferable, and if you try to sell them you could be found guilty of a crime called “trafficking in a Democracy Voucher.” Just try to get a job with that on your record.

Will this work? I don’t know, but it should work. Because when every voter, rich or poor, is armed with four Democracy Vouchers, a candidate will know when he rings that doorbell, he or she is not just talking to a voter &#8212 they’re talking to a voter with a $100.

Take that, rich people.