Oakland just passed a bill to give residents $100 to donate to local campaigns. Here’s why it matters.

The measure is a way to expand access to the ballot for would-be candidates. “If you want to run for office in the U.S., one of the first questions that people ask you is not what’s your experience [or] what’s your community support—but, how much money will you raise?” Newman says. Currently, the system favors those with backing from wealthy individuals or special interest groups.

For the public, it’s a way to get more actively involved in democracy. According to a Maplight report, 45% of contributions in the past four election cycles in Oakland have come from the top three majority white neighborhoods, and only a quarter from the six zip codes with the lowest median-household incomes. “Any Oakland resident can now have the means to donate to politicians they support regardless of their income,” Newman says. Read more here.