Democracy Happy Hour TODAY @ 5 pm PT/8 pm ET via Zoom!

Grab a drink and come hear about the latest democracy news, ongoing efforts to fix democracy, and actions you can take at our weekly Democracy Happy Hour, Wednesdays @ 5 pm PT/8 pm ET. This is an online virtual event via Zoom.

with Rory O'Sullivan

Seattle is the only jurisdiction in the country using a Democracy Voucher Program. It's a public funding of elections system that gives four $25 vouchers to eligible Seattle residents that they can give to participating candidates running for mayor, city council or city attorney. It empowers everyday people to directly participate in elections, and allows candidates without deep pockets to run viable campaigns. Rory O'Sullivan, one of the original architects of the program, will discuss the history of public funding in Seattle and how the voucher program is a model for other jurisdictions throughout the country. 

Rory is a partner at Washington Employment Benefits Advocates and a candidate for Seattle City Attorney. He grew up in the Seattle area, attended the University of Washington, and then worked for Congressman Jim McDermott in Washington D.C. Since finishing law school at Georgetown University Law Center, Rory has dedicated his career to poverty law representing homeowners facing foreclosure at Northwest Justice Project and then serving as the Managing Attorney at the Housing Justice Project. Rory has been involved with efforts to build and expand programs for the public financing of elections for more than 20 years.