Oregon is the birthplace of the Citizens' Initiative Review.

The CIR was first demonstrated on a statewide basis in Oregon in 2008, and in 2011 the Citizens’ Initiative Review was signed into law by the Oregon legislature – an historic first. For more details on the CIR’s history, visit our About page.

The Citizens’ Initiative Review Commission oversees statewide Citizens’ Initiative Reviews in Oregon, which occurred every even year since 2008. No statewide review took place in 2018 due to a lack of funding. But we took the opportunity to do a local one in the Portland area instead!

2018 Portland Metro-Area CIR

For the first time ever, a randomly selected and demographically representative citizen panel reviewed a local ballot measure in the Portland metro area. Over four days of deliberation, the panel reviewed Measure 26-199, the Portland Metro Region Affordable Housing Bond. For more information on this review and to read the Citizens’ Statement, click here.

Oregon Citizens' Statements

Statewide

Measure 97 (2016)
Measure 92 (2014)
Measure 90 (2014)
Measure 85 (2012)
Measure 82 (2012)
Measure 74 (2010)
Measure 73 (2010)
Measure 58 (2008)

Portland Metro Area

Measure 26-199 (2018)

Jackson County

Jackson County, Oregon, was the site of the first county pilot of a Citizens’ Initiative Review process.

Measure 15-119 (2014)

Recent Tweets

The 2019 Community Oregon Expo is just days away. Join us to learn about the ways in which we can explore the urban/rural divide in ways that are meaningful, authentic, and real. Register today! healthydemocracy.org/events
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 2 days ago

The Citizens' Initiative Review just got a shout out in Buenos Aires. (Thanks, @SebLinares!) But as he said: the CIR is only a start. Representative panels of everyday people not only can respond to initiatives but can create policy proposals themselves. #LaCiudadQueQueremos
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 2 days ago

Healthy Democracy's @linndavis is speaking at the 3rd Int'l Congress on Urbanism, Mobility & Citizen Participation in Buenos Aires this week. He'll be tweeting periodically from there. Look really hard at this fabulous map & you can alllmost see him in miniature in the lower left
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 2 days ago

Join us tonight for the 2019 Milwaukie Citizens Jury panelist selection event. You can come to the Milwaukie City Hall to attend the event in person, or tune in to the @CityofMilwaukie YouTube page to livestream it in the comfort of your own home. youtube.com/channel/UCRFbf…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 week ago

In just over a week, we will come together to hear from our Community Oregon participants about the lessons they learned during their time in the Community Oregon program. Join us September 21 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Concordia University. Register today at healthydemocracy/events.
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 week ago

If you're in Central Oregon this weekend, join us for our first-ever Civic Saturday. Gather with your fellow citizens, and reflect on what democracy means to you. Reserve your spot today! eventbrite.com/e/civic-saturd…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 week ago

Think the urban/rural divide is hopeless? Join us for the Community Oregon Expo to hear from Oregonians who have experienced a diﬀerent truth — and how you can learn from their stories. Sat., Sept. 21 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Concordia University. healthydemocracy.org/events
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 2 weeks ago

Recent Posts

Welcome to Farres Alkhaiyer . . . Dreams away from screams

August 13, 2019

Monday, August 12 marked Farres Alkhaiyer’s first day with Healthy Democracy. Farres joins Healthy Democracy as a fellow in the 2019-2020 Community Solutions Program, a prestigious fellowship program run by the DC-based nonprofit IREX. This program brings together 80 of the brightest community leaders from around the world for four months of intensive leadership development in
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Citizens Jury is coming to Milwaukie, Oregon

June 24, 2019

Five thousand randomly selected Milwaukie households were mailed a letter this week, giving individuals in those households a chance to be part of a unique partnership between the City of Milwaukie and Healthy Democracy. Individuals who receive the mailing can be a part of the first ever Citizens Jury in the state, in Milwaukie. A
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Eight Suggestions for Democracy – John Frohnmayer’s Keynote Speech

April 8, 2019

John Frohnmayer was the keynote speaker at the Healthy Democracy 10th Anniversary Celebration on April 8, 2019. Enjoy his words of wisdom . . . and celebrate our 10 years and beyond! Nobody ever said that being a citizen in a democracy was easy. Each of us in this room tonight could give at least
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CIR in Oregon