Election Protection Intern

Election Protection Intern 

Semester: Summer (June-August 2024)

Status: Part-time Temporary (up to 30 hours per week)

Reports to: Our Election Protection Team (2members) 

Rate of Pay: $17.50 per hour 

Location: Washington, DC Required 

Self-ID Questionnaire 

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization that unites Republicans, Democrats, and independents to win game-changing federal reforms to fix our broken political system and create an inclusive democracy that works for everyone. Issue One educates the public and Congress to pass legislation to increase transparency, strengthen government ethics and accountability, reduce the influence of big money in politics, protect the freedom to vote, and strengthen U.S. elections.

Issue One is helping lead the fight to protect U.S. elections and election workers in 2024, ensure a peaceful transfer of power in 2025, and win comprehensive reforms to combat disinformation on technology platforms. Issue One built the National Council on Election Integrity and led its $15 million Count Every Vote campaign to defend the integrity of the 2020 elections and push back against attempts to undermine faith in our democratic process.  

POSITION

Issue One is seeking a summer Election Protection intern interested in learning about how U.S. elections work and helping Issue One advance its election protection priorities, including lifting up U.S. election workers and winning new legislation to strengthen our elections. The intern will work closely with our Election Protection team and will support Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign. We want to hire an intern who can be unflinching when assigned various responsibilities and remain open-minded, like the rest of our staff. 

Our interns are integral members of Issue One. We are a growing office where you will gain hands-on experience in bipartisan outreach and advocacy, research, communications and messaging tactics, event planning, and much more. We also work closely with other reform organizations and will give you a comprehensive look at the vital work being done nationwide.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist team with implementing campaign plans to advance bipartisan democracy reform; 
• Assist the team with research around election administration systems, processes, and laws;
• Assist the team with research and monitoring of state and federal election-related policy developments;
• Support the organization’s 2024 campaign efforts that seek to strengthen confidence in U.S. elections; 
• Be trusted to lead important projects, all while providing regular updates about any adjustments or progress; 
• Help expand organizational reach by assisting with outreach, list-building campaigns, and creating content that supports the organization's mission;
• Schedule and attend, as assigned, relevant meetings and public events and follow up with important stakeholders as needed;
• Support logistical coordination and keep colleagues aware of any planning concerns; and
• Collaborate with all other IO staff as needed to complete the objectives of the Campaign team. 

Other Responsibilities TBD. Given the fluid and developing nature of our campaigns program, duties are subject to change, and new responsibilities might be added based on the program's needs. Therefore, the intern must be able to adapt to program needs and remain optimistic when changes take place. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated interest in campaign development, project management, and political advocacy
• Passion for Issue One issue areas, particularly election protection and trust in elections 
• Self-starter who can see projects through to completion
• Commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable political system
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to try new things
• Demonstrated ability to generate ideas and adapt to new projects
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team

LOCATION

This will be a part-time internship of approximately 30 hours per week. Interns must reside in the Washington, DC, area and are expected to work a hybrid schedule, including being in our downtown DC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Issue One will work around class schedules if needed. 

We anticipate this being a roughly 12-week internship, starting on or about Monday, June 3, and ending on or about Thursday, August 22.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline

• March 19-April 1: Resumes accepted for consideration for internship 
• April 2-5:Resume screening and interviews scheduled with/ selected candidates
• April 8-12: Internship interviews and potential assessment 
• April 15-19: Offer made to the preferred candidate 

Special Note: While Issue One will do its best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organization will do its best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after April 1, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview. 

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire 

Our DEI efforts focus on empowering staff, valuing differences, and ensuring every voice matters. We aim to attract diverse candidates with varied perspectives and experiences, reinforcing our commitment to a workplace where everyone's unique contributions are celebrated.

We ask all applicants to fill out a voluntary self-identification questionnaire as part of our application. This helps us maintain our DEI commitment and create equal opportunities for success.

How to Apply

1. Interested applicants can apply by clicking "apply for this job" in the top-right corner of this page. Please include how you heard about the position.
2. All applicants are encouraged to complete the self-identification questionnaire. 

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.