Benefits of CIR
Highlights from CIR Process Design and Deliberative Quality:
Overall Satisfaction of the CIR Process:
At the end of each Review, panelists are asked to rate their “overall satisfaction with the CIR process.” Panelists generally give the CIR very high ratings, with the vast majority rating the process highly. When looking at the Reviews across years in … we see that “very high” satisfaction was reported as often or more often in the 2018 CIRs than in the average across 2010-2016. Sixty percent of those in the Portland Metro CIR gave that rating, compared to 68% in Massachusetts and 75% in California.
Neutral Facilitation:
To assess perception of bias, we asked panelists to state their satisfaction with the staff’s ability to “conduct the CIR in an unbiased way.” …the 2018 CIRs were no different from past years. Almost all panelists from all three Reviews reported high or very high satisfaction along this criterion.
Direct Relevancy:
The overall finding was that the Statements were directly relevant to the issues at hand, largely error-free, and written at a moderate reading level.
Helpful to Voters:
Total Sample: Portland Metro (204) Massachusetts (704) California (745)
we asked, “In deciding how to vote on [this issue], how helpful was it to read the Citizens’ Initiative Review statement? Was it very helpful to you, somewhat helpful, or did it make no difference?” The result was consistent with previous surveys finding that a plurality of voters found it “somewhat helpful.”
Across all voters who saw the CIR Statements, 30% found them helpful. This “very helpful” figure was higher for those who reported that they found the ballot measures “very difficult to understand” (35%) and for those who thought the initiative process needed “major changes” (34%). It was also higher for those who thought their vote on these ballot measures “definitely” would make a difference (40%) and for those who were “very satisfied” with the initiative process overall (45%).
Increased Likelihood of Voting on the Initiative:
In the Portland Metro area and Massachusetts, at least two in five said that reading the Statement would make them more likely to mark their ballot. California results were even more promising: A majority (53%) of Californians surveyed said that reading the Citizens’ Statement would make them more likely to vote on Proposition 10, with only 45% saying it made no difference.
Increased Knowledge:
Several studies of previous CIRs have shown that reading the Citizens’ Statement made voters more knowledgeable about issues on their ballots. In 2014, the rate at which survey respondents answered true-or-false questions correctly was 8-17% higher for those who were shown the CIR Statement compared to a control group. Usability studies have similarly found that voters not only learn new things by reading the statement but become more aware of what they don’t know, often changing their opinions based on that new knowledge.
Increased Faith in Government, Engagement, and Sense of Political Efficacy:
After their deliberative experience, CIR participants report being more confident in their ability to self-govern and in their faith that government can work for the people. Participants also gain confidence in the use of discussion for problem solving and begin to think more positively about their community.
In addition to these attitudinal changes, participants say their behavior changes after the CIR. As a result of their experience, participants report that they are more likely to engage in political and civic conversations and to work with others in their community through volunteer or organizational efforts.
These efforts also emanate out to the wider public. Simply being aware of the CIR helps some voters gain an increased faith in government. Those who read the Statement see additional benefits, increasing their faith in their ability to self-govern and their confidence in making decisions related to ballot initiatives.