Care to share? Public information-sharing behavior in response to the Citizens’ Initiative Review

Sharing political information freely is at the heart of every democracy. Previous research has shown that the information people receive from various sources can make or break their voting decisions. However, less is known about what drives them to actively share information with their peers. In this article, we investigate which factors are associated with their intention to share information that they receive from a citizens’ jury composed of fellow voters about upcoming ballot votes. Using data from three US states during the vote campaigns, we find that information-sharing behavior is driven by a positive attitude toward the 2016 CIRs among eligible voters in three states (Oregon, Arizona, Massachusetts) who have read the Summary Statement prior to voting. Additionally, stronger positions favoring or rejecting a measure discussed in the CIR increase willingness to share. Overall, the findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors that drive willingness to share information from the CIR's summary statement and shed light on the role of minipublics in shaping public discourse and decision-making processes.