Citizens' Initiative Review

A small, permanent device rather than a one-off event. Oregon created the first permanent Citizens' Initiative Review in 2010: roughly two dozen randomly selected voters spend a few days questioning advocates and experts about a ballot measure, then write a statement for the voters' pamphlet setting out the main arguments and how many panelists came down on each side. Voters found the statements helpful, and their knowledge of the measures rose. The weakness is money. Oregon has not funded it permanently, so it reviews only one measure in years when funding arrives. Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, Sion in Switzerland and Finland have run pilots.