Citizens in Charge

Last October Citizens in Charge Foundation honored Healthy Democracy Oregon with the Lilburned Award for that month. They received the award for their creation of the Citizen Initiative Review. This panel is made up of voters in the state that are picked at random, they then hear arguments from both opponents and proponents of a given ballot measure. Once the arguments are heard they panel produces a “Citizen Statement” that is distributed to voters, giving them a fair and accurate picture of what they are voting on.

Healthy Democracy Oregon recently began the process of gathering voters for this review panel:

An Oregon nonprofit has mailed out 10,000 letters to voters, including some in Jackson County, inviting them to participate in a review panel to help inform fellow voters on ballot measures.

“This is a really special opportunity,” said Elliot Shuford, a co-director of the nonprofit and nonpartisan organization Healthy Democracy Oregon. “Rarely do we get the chance to inform every voter about measures.”

Hopefully there is a lot of interest among Oregon voters, because this is a great way to make the initiative process in the state more open, and information more accessible.

Citizens in Charge also has something similar to this review panel. BallotPodium.com is a website set-up and moderated by Citizens in Charge that allows discussion on the various measures on the ballot around the country. We get arguments from both sides on a given measure, but those arguments up and let people discuss the merits of each. Make sure to check it out and make your voice heard.