As Chicago’s mayoral election season intensifies, a local civic organization is challenging candidates to engage voters through an innovative democratic tool: citizen assemblies. The Chicago chapter of Sortition USA has invited all announced mayoral candidates to commit to endorsing a citizen’s assembly on a public policy issue of their choice if elected.

Sortition USA advocates for citizen assemblies—groups of randomly selected residents who deliberate on policy matters. This concept, rooted in Ancient Greek democracy and akin to the jury system, has found renewed application worldwide in addressing complex issues such as homelessness, healthcare, zoning, gender rights, transportation, and climate change.

The organization’s request is straightforward. Candidates are asked to pledge only to support the formation of a citizen assembly during their term and to identify the policy area the assembly would focus on. By doing so, candidates would indicate a commitment to incorporating diverse public perspectives into policymaking beyond traditional electoral engagement.

Proponents argue that citizen assemblies can foster more inclusive and representative democratic processes. When randomly selected individuals are provided with expert information and sufficient time for discussion, they often find common ground despite differing viewpoints and backgrounds. In an era when many voters feel disconnected from politics, this approach offers additional pathways for participation and community input.

Critics of the current political environment note that conventional democratic practices leave many residents feeling alienated and skeptical of meaningful involvement. Sortition USA suggests that citizen assemblies could help address these gaps by reinvigorating local governance with broader civic input.

The group’s interim co-chair, Griffin Thompson, emphasized that Chicago voters should expect candidates to demonstrate respect for residents’ opinions and a vision for more participatory governance. “Taking the pledge is one way to demonstrate both,” Thompson said, challenging candidates to embrace this proposal as a sign of openness to genuine public engagement.

As the mayoral race progresses, it remains to be seen which candidates will take up the offer to support citizen assemblies and how this approach might influence policy development and public trust in Chicago’s government moving forward.