In the 2016 election, as we're electing a new president, we could also be voting on an important measure to take American democracy back from the moneyed interests that now control our politics and policy.

Initiative 735 would give every voter in the State of Washington the chance to say to our Congressional representatives, “Enough! Enough billionaire, corporate, and other special interest money dominating our elections. We want a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision.”

Volunteers on the streets of Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue, Spokane, and in 26 counties throughout the state are now collecting signatures to put Initiative 735 on the ballot next November. So far 244,000 people have signed. We need 70,000 more signatures by December 31.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is the 2010 Supreme Court Decision that held that contributions to—and expenditures by—independent political action committees (PACs), corporations, and other special interests cannot be limited. Since 2010, expenditures by “Super PACs” and other independent committees have exploded at every level of American “democracy.”

In the 2016 presidential campaign so far, 158 families have contributed $186 million—almost half of all the money contributed. In the special state legislative election contest this year in south King County, independent political action committees spent $1,230,000. Total spending in the campaign was $90 per voter. At stake in such “swing” districts is control of the closely divided state house and senate. And in the 2015 Seattle City Council elections, $790,210 was spent by independent PACs. This compares to $0 four years ago.

But Initiative 735 needs your help if it is going to collect the needed signatures by the end of this month. Each petition holds 20 signatures. Your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues can sign your petition and collect more on their own. One volunteer has collected over 10,000 signatures! The wamend.org website can tell you how to get petitions, link up with partners, identify good locations, and help with do-it-at-home phone banks. And it provides more information on Citizens United, the initiative, and the campaign.

Never in the history of our country has big money had such power in our elections. Our legacy of representative democracy is at stake. Your help will make a difference.

Jim Street is a former Seattle City Council member and Superior Court judge.