Election Internship

Job Description

Join the Chatham County Elections team and gain hands-on experience while serving your community. If you are eager to learn, detail-oriented, and interested in public service, we encourage you to apply and help support fair, accurate, and accessible elections in Chatham County. Performs entry-level administrative, technical, and project-based work while gaining practical experience in election administration. This position assists with absentee voting operations, voter registration processing, election outreach, data analysis, campaign finance audit, and election preparation activities. This internship provides hands-on experience in the administration of local, state, and federal elections while developing professional skills in public service, technology, and data management. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Elections Deputy Director and Elections Coordinator.

Essential Functions

• Assists with reviewing absentee ballot request forms for completeness and accuracy;
• Assists with data entry and processing of absentee ballot requests within the State Election Information Management System (SEIMS);
• Supports absentee voting operations, including document preparation, quality control, filing, and record management;
• Assists with processing voter registration applications, updates, and maintenance under the supervision of Elections staff;
• Assists with voter registration outreach events and educational initiatives throughout Chatham County;
• Conducts research and data analysis related to voter registration trends, turnout statistics, and election participation;
• Assists with preparing reports, spreadsheets, and presentations using election data;
• Assists with early voting operations, including post-election audits, equipment and supply preparation, and administrative support;
• Assists with organizing and inventorying precinct supplies and election materials before and after elections;
• Assists staff with poll worker training preparation, including assembling training materials and supporting training sessions;
• Assists with developing technology-based projects designed to improve election administration, including helping design and test a voter wait-time application;
• Provides courteous customer service by answering general questions from voters in person, by telephone, and through email;
• Assists with special projects, administrative tasks, and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate, in Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, Data Analytics, Computer Science, Information Systems, Communications, or a related field. Equivalent combination of education, volunteer experience, or demonstrated interest in election and public service may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Interest in elections, public administration, political science, government, or civic engagement;
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail;
• Ability to analyze data and identify trends;
• Ability to learn new software and technologies quickly;
• Ability to maintain confidential information and exercise sound judgment;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a professional office environment;
• Ability to provide excellent customer service to voters and community members;
• Ability to manage multiple assignments while meeting deadlines.

Physical Requirements This work can require the exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting and repetitive motions, frequently requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel and occasionally requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Special Requirements Must possess a valid North Carolina driver's license. Must be able and willing to work a flexible schedule during early voting and on election day as needed.

Chatham County is fully committed to equal employment opportunity (EEO) principles and issues this anti-discrimination/EEO compliance clause to support and maintain employee's rights and responsibilities relating to equal employment. The core of equal employment opportunity is the right to work and advance on the basis of merit, ability, and potential, free from prejudice or discrimination. In accordance with the applicable anti-discrimination statutes, executive orders, and other authorities, Chatham County protects employees against discrimination, to the fullest extent of law, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, political affiliation, whistleblower activity, parental status, and military service (past, present, or future), and against retaliation for participation in EEO activity or opposition to discrimination.