About The Carter Center
The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights, alleviating human suffering, enhancing freedom and democracy, and improving health conditions. The Center seeks a highly qualified, motivated, and energetic consultant to serve as an Election Technology Expert for the Center’s nonpartisan election observation efforts in Michigan and Georgia and provide additional national-level analysis of trends in the election technology space as-needed.
The Democracy Program works globally to support and strengthen participatory democracy, consistent with human rights. Beginning in 2020, The Carter Center began efforts to support good election administration in the United States, including expanding nonpartisan observation, bolstering dispute resolution, tracking disinformation and dangerous speech, contributing to electoral reform and accessibility, and promoting principles for trusted elections.
Employment Details
- Level of effort: Up to 22 days per month
- Start date: As soon as possible
- Location: Michigan (U.S.); travel throughout Michigan may be required; travel to Georgia may be required; work in the Grand Rapids/Ann Arbor area and remote work are also expected
- Pay: Commensurate with experience
- Length of assignment: Through January 30, 2027, with a high likelihood of extension/renewal depending on performance
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of Sarah Cooper, and in close coordination with the field and Atlanta-based project staff, the consultant will:
Election Technology Assessment and Analysis
- Serve as the primary advisor for election technology analysis related to the Michigan and Georgia observation efforts;
- Become familiar with the state and federal legal, regulatory, and administrative framework governing election technology in Michigan and Georgia, including relevant procedures, standards, and safeguards;
- Become familiar with the election technologies used in Michigan and Georgia and the ways they affect election administration, including voter registration systems, pollbook technologies, voting systems, tabulation systems, reporting systems, post-election audit processes, and other relevant tools or infrastructure;
- Assess election technology processes and systems to inform findings regarding security, transparency, and integrity of voting technology;;
- Assess the extent to which election technologies support equitable and accessible participation for voters with disabilities and other voters requiring accommodations;
- Coordinate with other team members to ensure coverage of relevant issues and alignment between election technology analysis and the broader observation effort.
Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Review
- Meet with election officials, technology vendors, subject-matter experts, civil society representatives, and other relevant stakeholders to gather information on the design, implementation, and oversight of election technologies in Michigan and Georgia;
- Analyze available documentation, audit materials, technical reports, public information, and other relevant sources to understand how election technologies function, how they are tested, and what safeguards exist for security, transparency, and in;
- Engage with relevant election administration bodies and other stakeholders to understand how election technology supports voter registration, ballot issuance, vote capture, tabulation, reporting, auditing, and related processes;
- Assess election technology systems and procedures with applicable law, administrative procedures, and relevant international obligations and standards for democratic elections.
Observation Methodology and Team Support
- Contribute to the implementation and refinement of The Carter Center’s methodology for assessing election technologies to support systematic observation and assessment across contexts;
- Coordinate with legal, data, and observation team members to ensure that technology-related findings are integrated into broader project analysis and reporting;
- Develop and deliver trainings and briefing materials for project staff and observers on key election technology issues, terminology, risks, and safeguards relevant to the Michigan and Georgia observation efforts;
- Prepare or contribute to briefing materials, talking points, and technical guidance for internal project use.
Reporting and Written Products
- Provide written assessments of election technology issues in Michigan, Georgia and – as-needed – nationally, including analysis of technical systems, procedures, safeguards, vulnerabilities, and implementation practices;
- Contribute to internal and external reports and statements related to the election process, with lead responsibility for drafting sections related to election technology issues;
- Prepare supplemental memos or technical analyses on specific issues as needed;
- Contribute recommendations for future observation, reform, or good practice related to election technology, as requested;
- Complete other tasks as requested to support the good functioning of the project.
Qualifications
- Relevant experience in voting technology, computer science, information systems, cybersecurity, election administration, human-computer interaction, digital systems analysis, or related fields;
- Familiarity with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and election technology certification standards in the United States;
- Demonstrated experience analyzing voting systems, tabulation systems, election technology infrastructure and procurement procedures, or other technology used in election processes;
- Strong ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences through briefings, memos, and written reports;
- Experience assessing issues such as system security, transparency, auditing, usability, privacy, or integrity in applied technology settings;
- Experience contributing to technical assessments, research, or observation-related programming in fast-moving environments;
- Familiarity with U.S. elections is strongly preferred; ability to quickly learn Georgia & Michigan-specific election technology procedures and systems is required;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with technical analysis tools, structured datasets, or related platforms is preferred.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting election observation, election administration, or election technology assessments;
- Familiarity with voting systems, electronic pollbooks, tabulation systems, post-election audits, or related election infrastructure;
- Experience working across technical and policy teams;
- Knowledge of accessibility, voter privacy, and public confidence considerations in election technology;
- Experience drafting public-facing analysis or technical report sections.
How to apply
Please submit:
- A CV
- A cover letter, including three references
- Michigan Consultancy Application – Intellistack
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only applicants selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified.