Citizens’ Participation Using Sortition

Summary:

Sortition is part of our everyday lives. If a decision is to be unbiased and incorruptible as well as guarantee absolute equality of opportunity, it is often decided by random selection. In football, a coin toss determines which team will kick off the match, who chooses sides, and which team will start a penalty shoot-out. Match pairings for the tournaments of many sports are also drawn by lottery, and the results are also determined by pure chance when numbers are drawn for lotteries or bingo.

The guide provides an overview of what sortition is, which different processes are available, when which process is best suited, how to carry out the processes, and what they cost. Basics and practical tips are illustrated using successful examples from Germany and other European countries.

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