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 Portland Metro Area CIR panelists are learning how to ask good questions in preparation for more information gathering this afternoon.
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 5 months ago

The Portland Metro Area CIR panelists are learning how to ask good questions in preparation for more information gathering this afternoon. @ Portland, Oregon instagram.com/p/Bm3s1X1hzjV/…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 5 months ago

The Portland Metro Area CIR is in Day 2 of 4! Follow us on our live stream at healthydemocracy.org/pdxcir
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 5 months ago

Time to select citizen panelists for this year's Portland-area Citizens' Initiative Review! Come learn how the CIR works from former citizen panelists & see this year's panelists be selected. Thurs., Aug. 2, 12–1pm, US Bank Room, 1st Floor, Central Library healthydemocracy.org/pr/2018/07/30/…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 6 months ago

DID YOU WIN THE DEMOCRACY LOTTERY? Were you one of the 5,000 Portland-area voters who got a mailing from us this week? Don't throw it away! It's worth $500 to you, plus an opportunity to be part of a unique democratic experiment. healthydemocracy.org/pdxcir
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 6 months ago

Participating in the Citizens’ Initiative Review creates an amazing opportunity for voting citizens to increase their impact on democracy. The Citizen’s Statement that is created as a result of the CIR directly informs the Oregon Voter’s guide!
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 6 months ago

Want to participate in democracy at the local level? Be part of the citizen panel for our upcoming Citizens’ Initiative Review process in August for Multnomah, Clackamas & Washington counties. Learn more at buff.ly/2J9bn35
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 6 months ago

Recent Posts

The 2018 Portland Metro Area CIR is Starting Today! (And Running Aug. 23-26)

August 23, 2018

The Portland metro area is hosting its first-ever Citizens’ Initiative Review (CIR), facilitated by Healthy Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit based in Portland. Up for review: the Metro Region Affordable Housing Bond Measure. A cross-section of voters – who are randomly selected to match the demographics of the metro region in key areas such as political affiliation,
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2018 Portland-Area CIR Details

July 30, 2018

2018 Portland-Area CIR Announcement

July 19, 2018

Got This Letter in Your Mail? You’ve won the democracy lottery! If you received the letter, you have a chance to be part of a Citizens’ Initiative Review. If you reply and are randomly selected, you will: Spend four days reviewing a measure on the November ballot, as part of a 20-person citizen panel Have
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CIR in Oregon