Perspectives and threats of democracy voucher democracy innovation through Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) theory and possible paths on its development.

The issue of money in politics remains a widely debated topic in the social sciences, yet scholars from Anglo-Saxon countries appear more engaged with it than their counterparts in continental Europe, where public financing of political parties is more developed. The democracy voucher (DV), a novel idea aimed at enhancing electoral equality, has received limited academic attention in Europe, with few exceptions, such as the work of Julia Cagé. Amid growing pressure on traditional public financing systems, democracy vouchers have garnered interest in various parts of the world.This article explores the concept of democracy vouchers, assessing their impact ten years after their implementation in Seattle (2015–2025) and situating them within broader socio-political transformations. Utilizing a multi-level perspective (MLS), the study systematically analyzes the conditions influencing the future development of this innovation. Additionally, it examines how democracy vouchers could be institutionally reinforced by expanding them into a broader citizen voucher system, drawing inspiration from universal benefits like Universal Basic Income (UBI).The conclusions focus on the sociotechnical strategies for implementing this innovation and consider its future prospects under two contrasting scenarios: the continued rise of authoritarianism or a renewed wave of democratic expansion.