Consultant: Election Expert, Electoral Assessments in Colorado, Nevada, and South Carolina

Consultant: Election Expert, Electoral Assessments in Colorado, Nevada, and South Carolina

The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to promote human rights, alleviate human suffering, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health conditions. The Center seeks a highly qualified, motivated, and energetic consultant with extensive experience with nonpartisan election observation to contribute to the Center’s U.S. Elections Project in the Democracy Program through state-based assessments in Colorado, Nevada and South Carolina.

Start date: As soon as possible

Location: Remote with travel to Colorado, Nevada, and/or South Carolina

Length of assignment: 15-20 workdays per month until August 31, 2025

Background

The Democracy Program at The Carter Center works globally to support democratic elections and strengthen participatory democracy, consistent with human rights. The overarching objective is to enhance democratic governance and increase effective political participation for all, especially groups that have been historically disadvantaged or that face political, cultural, or socioeconomic barriers. This includes women, racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, youth, elderly people, and other marginalized groups.

In 2024, The Carter Center successfully launched nonpartisan networks of citizens from across the political spectrum in Montana and New Mexico to observe and report on the conduct of the election in each state. The goal of nonpartisan observation, differing from existing partisan poll watchers and election protection, was to provide credible and transparent information on the conduct of elections through public reports. The Center aims to launch similar networks for the 2026 midterm election cycle in Colorado, Nevada, and/or South Carolina.

This consultant position will support the project, including a team of Carter Center staff and consultants, to conduct short-term assessments of election-related issues in Colorado, Nevada, and/or South Carolina, focusing on the electoral/political environment and the landscape for nonpartisan election observation. The Election Expert will largely be tasked with collecting information to assess whether the presence of nonpartisan observation networks in the identified states would be useful, advisable, and feasible.

More precisely, working with Carter Center staff or consultants, the Election Expert consultant will:

• Assess the pre-election environment in Colorado, Nevada, and/or South Carolina and ultimately prepare a report (up to 10 pages) detailing findings, including the following subjects:
  • Legal framework analysis
  • Access to electoral data and processes for independent nonpartisan actors
  • Review of electoral / political geography in the state
  • Key electoral dates
  • The overall political environment 
  • Existing observation activities within the state
  • Election administration procedures
  • Recent electoral reform history
  • Information landscape
  • Parties and candidates, and
  • Existing organizations active within the election space
  • Proposed observation methodology and structure
• Conduct desk research/analysis on the assigned state(s);
• Solicit and conduct interviews with representatives of civil society organizations, election administrators, political parties, academics, media, and other relevant stakeholders active within the election space to support conclusions in the report;
• In consultation with other project staff, collect data to inform planning for a potential election observation mission;
• Conduct other necessary prep work to support the assessment;
• Prepare written talking points and background information in advance of meetings; and
• Remain available for consultation (phone or email) as Carter Center staff makes final decisions regarding project implementation in Colorado, Nevada, and South Carolina.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7-10 years of professional experience supporting technical nonpartisan citizen election observation
• Previous election, state government, civic engagement, and/or organizing experience in the United States, preferably in Colorado, Nevada, and/or South Carolina
• Demonstrated previous experience developing workplans and program timelines to support effective nonpartisan citizen election observation
• Knowledge of key actors working on election issues in the identified states
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work well remotely and as part of a nonpartisan team
• Ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate, and monitor own work
• Experience with nonpartisan election observation preferred

Compensation

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the goal of filling the position as soon as possible. To apply, please use this link to submit a cover letter and CV: https://filerequestpro.com/up/uselectionsrecruiting.

Only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center; no phone calls or emails, please.

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