Guide: Use of Polis for Assembly Organisers

WRITE THIS FOR USING POLIS FOR ASSEMBLY ORGANISERS How to set it up How to frame a question

Polis will have a number of statements added by the poll creators for everyone to vote on.

The poll may include the option for participants to add your own statements, for everyone else to vote on. Please note: Each statement cannot be more than 140 characters.

Step 1: How to frame statements

What’s the purpose of the poll and who’s participating?

The framing of the statement for discussion is important. Is the purpose of the poll to get a yes or no response, or to expand thinking, or to find a solution for a specific issue? Is the poll for rebels or a wider community?

Examples:

The poll is on a XR movement-wide issue and rebels will participate.
The poll is on a regional issue and regional rebels and citizens will participate.
The poll is on a UK-wide issue and citizens will participate.

Step 2: Co-create your statements: Work collaboratively where possible.

Sense-checking with others will help you develop your statement.

It needs to be clearly understandable
As short a sentence as possible
Be broad enough to allow for free discussion, but not so broad that a structured conversation around it is difficult. Parameters are useful, e.g. geographical locality or time-based limits.

Examples:

Broad = How might we... How can we...
Narrow = Should we do X or Y? Do you agree with this or that?

Step 3: Create Your Statement

A good deliberation statement inspires, fires imaginations and invites all involved to participate in a spirit of hope, trust, openness, inclusion, creativity and empowerment.
There are no wrong and right answers to designing your statement, but it is important to be clear about your ultimate goal first, then refining and distilling the topic to serve that purpose. Think about what will inspire feeling as well as ideas, because that will generate real enthusiasm for the process and can help generate energy for putting in place ideas generated!

Examples of generic open statements with some analysis of approach

Open statements open up discussions by inviting all voices to join in.

How can [locality: local, regional, national] do something about climate change together within the next year?
Being a broad statement, it will involve a longer poll, with many more statements to vote on. However, Polis will automatically show which statements gain the most popularity to help prioritisation and point to possible connected issues.

How might we reduce our energy bills collectively?
This too could be broad-ranging in terms of possible recommendations. However, it may suggest the necessity for further polling topics.

How can we nurture nature in (community / village / town, etc.) across the seasons?
This statement sets a geographical limit, which will suggest solutions that can be implemented locally and offer a breakdown of recommendations based on different times of year. It may also suggest where there is a need for possible actions at a national or even international level.

How can (name of locality / town / county) make sure that everyone in our community can access healthy, affordable food for the long term?
Food resilience is a massive topic, with many threads, all of which could be addressed by expert or enthusiast groups coming together on specialist areas.

How might we rely less on fossil fuels in (named area)?
There are no timelines in this statement, which broadens the scope. The locality may offer some limits to statements to vote on. This is potentially a huge topic, which will generate need for further deliberation.

What might we do to ensure that our community is represented well by our politicians?
This is another great statement, which could be as narrow or broad as necessary.

Difference Between Open and Closed Questions

EXPLAINER: USE OPEN QUESTIONS FOR DELIBERATION AND CLOSED QUESTIONS FOR YES/NO REPONSES

Examples of open questions:

How might we make the Third Demand, the demand for systemic change, more appealing and widely understood?
How might we create local groups that can attract and keep people involved?
How might we create purposeful actions in our local communities?
How might XR be more focused on its demand for systemic change - a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate and Ecological Justice?
How might connections be understood and improved between the Hive, Nations and Regions, Local, Campaign and Community groups?

Examples of closed questions:

Do you feel there needs to be a balance between consultation and research when designing a strategy?
Is it important to get the consent of the movement for a strategy?
Do you think that Operations has the final say on whether an Actions Strategy is appropriate or not?
Do you think that the best way to get feedback on the Movement Strategy or Actions Plan is best done by presentation with Q&A to every group that requests it?
Do you think that once a strategy is written, there needs to be an assembly to make sense of it in practical terms?

If you have any questions or need support - contact the UK Assemblies Team