Summer Graduate Intern

Who Are We? 

The Alliance for Competitive Elections (ACE) is a Colorado-based organization working to strengthen American democracy by expanding voter choice and supporting a more open, multiparty political system. 

We build bridges between political parties, reform advocates, and civic leaders to advance electoral reforms that make elections fairer and representation stronger. Our work combines research, strategy, and coalition-building at the intersection of democracy innovation and real-world politics.

At ACE, we believe competitive elections are the foundation of a healthy democracy — and that improving them should be both rigorous and imaginative. We work across ideological lines, value good ideas wherever they come from, and keep our sense of humor even when talking about ballot access laws.

About the Role

ACE is looking for a graduate-level Summer Intern to join our team during a pivotal moment leading up to the 2026 election cycle. This internship marks an important milestone for ACE: it’s the first paid position in our organization’s history, reflecting how seriously we take this role and how much we value the contributions of early team members. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on research, organization, and political problem-solving, and someone who wants to learn the mechanics of how reform efforts actually move from idea to implementation. 

You’ll work on projects that bridge policy, data, and coalition development. This is more than an administrative internship; you’ll contribute to core organizational work while learning directly from practitioners active in political reform and cross-partisan strategy.

Interns will be fully integrated into ACE’s small, fast-moving team, gaining an inside view of democracy work that combines on-the-ground organizing with systems-level thinking.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-election research to support ACE’s strategic planning, including tracking polls, mapping candidates, and following ballot measures that shape the political landscape.
• Support ACE’s Election Observation Program, helping prepare materials and logistics for election-day operations and, where appropriate, contributing directly to observation activities.
• Research and map organizations, stakeholders, and potential funders to strengthen ACE’s national reform and coalition networks.
• Help maintain ACE’s outreach and partnership pipelines by keeping our contact and engagement systems organized and up-to-date.
• Assist with scheduling, meeting coordination, and event logistics, ensuring the team’s work stays organized and on track.
• Represent ACE at community or partner events — whether that’s a policy roundtable or a weekend civic festival — helping make democracy reform visible and engaging.
• Attend internal and coalition meetings, take clear notes, and prepare concise updates for staff, board, and partners.
• We’re looking for someone who’s curious, reliable, and energized by the chance to make democracy a little more competitive and a lot more functional.

Who You Are

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s program (Public Policy, Political Science, International Affairs, Communications, or related field)
• You’re a fast, curious researcher who can untangle complex political stories and explain them in plain language.
• You write with clarity and purpose, whether it’s a one-paragraph blurb or a short explainer that helps people understand how democracy works.
• You like a well-formulated plan, but you also know how to keep multiple projects moving even when plans change.
• You’re dependable and self-directed in a remote team setting; people trust you to get things done and you ask questions when needed.
• You care about how political systems can be improved — elections, parties, institutions etc. — and you’re eager to help strengthen them.
• Bonus points if you enjoy collaboration, have a sense of humor about politics, or get way too interested in vote-counting rules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some experience with political, nonprofit, academic, or research environments
• Familiarity with U.S. elections, public policy, or civic engagement (coursework is sufficient)
• Experience with writing, research projects, or student organizations
• Interest in event support, community engagement, or stakeholder coordination

Details

• Location: Remote, Colorado Preferred
• Timeline: June – August 2026
• Commitment: Minimum 20 hours per week
• Compensation: $2,000 stipend for the summer

Why This Role

This internship was built for people who want to do more than just study reforms. As an intern at ACE, you’ll be part of a small team of professionals who have worked on political reform, governance, and coalition-building projects around the world, and many of us continue to collaborate closely with elected officials and international partners.

We know what it’s like to start out in this field — we were all interns once — and we take pride in making sure everyone on our team has real responsibility, space to learn, and opportunities to contribute ideas that matter.

You’ll gain hands-on experience in coalition-building, election research, and program strategy, all within an organization that prizes initiative and curiosity. Because we operate at the intersection of policy, politics, and international engagement, you’ll also develop fundamental insight into how the governments and global democracy reform networks operate in practice.

With this internship, you’ll be part of discussions shaping ACE’s work leading into a pivotal election year. Expect an environment that’s serious about results, open to ideas, and committed to making democracy both more competitive and more resilient.

Aren’t sure whether to apply? Internships are about professional growth; ACE encourages individuals who fit 80% of this description to apply, and lean into opportunities for growth in their application materials.

How to Apply

Submit the following materials to admin@competitiveelections.org (PDFs preferred): 

• Your resume
• Cover letter 
• Writing exercise (1 page max)

In your writing exercise, show us how you think. We’d like you to choose a current issue in U.S. democracy, elections, or political reform that you think deserves more attention. Explain what’s at stake and what most people tend to misunderstand about it. Don’t treat this as an academic practice - imagine you’re writing for an informed friend who cares about democracy but doesn’t wade through policy briefs for fun. This exercise should be brief and understandable by a general audience.