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

Applications for Community Oregon 2019 still being accepted. Join us! healthydemocracy.org/communityorego…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 week ago

Apply today for Community Oregon 2019! conta.cc/2DA4pUj
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 month ago

A Deliberate Fix for Democracy (featuring, among other things, the Citizens' Initiative Review). knowablemagazine.org/article/societ…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 1 month ago

Now Accepting Applications for the 2019 Community Oregon Program! Community Oregon is a 3-part group experience of 20 Oregonians - half from rural communities and half from urban communities. Learn more and apply today! healthydemocracy.org/communityorego…
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 2 months ago

The Portland Metro Area CIR panelists are learning how to ask good questions in preparation for more information gathering this afternoon.
— Healthy Democracy @(healthydem) 7 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) 7 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) 7 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