The Carter Center, Democracy Program
Domestic Election Observation Mission
Michigan, United States
The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.
The Carter Center is seeking a highly qualified independent contractor to serve as a Political/Campaign Finance Expert for a domestic election observation mission to Michigan for the 2026 midterm elections, to be held on November 3, 2026. The expert will engage with stakeholders, conduct analysis, and report on political and campaign finance issues based on Michigan and federal law and international standards for democratic elections. The duration and scope of the mission is contingent on the availability of funds and electoral developments. The expert is expected to deploy for approximately three weeks around election day, with the possibility of remote pre- and post-election analysis.
Primary responsibilities:
In coordination with the Mission Director and Project Manager:
- Review and assess Michigan’s political and campaign finance laws and regulations, including relevant federal law, as they apply to the 2026 midterm elections. Assess implementation of the legal framework and the complaints and enforcement process for campaign finance violations. Ground assessment of legal framework and implementation against international standards and best practices, including article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and General Comment 25, and the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), in particular article 7(3) and the Conference of States Parties resolution on preventing and combating corruption through enhancing transparency in the funding of political parties and election campaigns.
- Engage with state and local election officials, the Michigan Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State’s office, political parties and candidates, civil society, domestic and international election observer groups, the private sector, media representatives, and other academics and experts familiar with campaign finance.
- Contribute to the continued development of a methodology for observation of campaign finance as requested by Carter Center project staff, under the guidance of the Mission Director and Project Manager.
- Analyze the role of outside spending in Michigan’s 2026 legislative and statewide races, including contributions to and expenditures by super PACs and legislative caucus PACs, and assess how current contribution limits and reporting schedules affect the timeliness and completeness of public disclosure.
- Assess the use of party accounts and other vehicles exempt from standard disclosure requirements, and evaluate their effect on transparency in state-level campaign finance reporting.
- Review allegations and enforcement actions concerning foreign-sourced funding in Michigan ballot campaigns and election-related spending, including the implementation and effectiveness of recent legislative measures addressing foreign funding restrictions.
- Examine how existing disclosure rules apply to digital and streaming political advertising, including the distinction between express advocacy and issue advocacy, and identify gaps in coverage as political spending shifts toward digital platforms.
- Track and analyze the proposed Michigan Utility and Government Contractor Campaign Finance Regulations Initiative, including its potential effects on contribution restrictions for regulated utilities and government contractors and on donor disclosure requirements for issue advertising, presenting the range of stakeholder positions in a balanced and non-partisan manner.
- Prepare a written assessment of the legal framework governing political and campaign finance in Michigan, identifying strengths, highlighting gaps, and contextualizing challenges faced by regulatory bodies, the judiciary, political parties, and other stakeholders. The assessment should propose measures to improve regulation and practice and should reflect the mission’s principle of political non-partisanship.
- Contribute campaign finance findings to the mission’s internal observer briefings, preliminary statement, and final report, and provide written inputs on the schedule set by the Mission Director and Project Manager.
Background – Key Issue Areas:
The expert’s analysis is expected to engage with several issue areas currently shaping the campaign finance landscape in Michigan, including but not limited to:
- Growth of outside spending through super PACs, legislative caucus PACs, and party accounts exempt from standard disclosure requirements, and its effect on transparency ahead of the 2026 primary and general elections.
- Allegations and legislative responses concerning foreign-sourced funding of Michigan ballot campaigns and election-related activity.
- Application of disclosure rules to digital and streaming political advertising, and the distinction between express and issue advocacy.
- The proposed Michigan Utility and Government Contractor Campaign Finance Regulations Initiative, including positions of proponents and opponents, and its potential effects on contribution restrictions and issue-ad disclosure.
Qualifications:
- Applicants should have at least seven years of experience implementing election monitoring missions, democracy and governance programs, or campaign finance oversight, including at least three years focused on political or campaign finance, in the United States and/or in other countries in similar democratic contexts.
- Demonstrated experience and/or knowledge of the Carter Center’s observation methodology, including international and regional standards for democratic elections, and experience developing or adapting observation methodologies, checklists, or analytical frameworks for campaign finance or a comparable thematic area.
- Extensive experience working on issues related to campaign finance, including at the state and federal level in the United States.
- Demonstrated familiarity with current U.S. campaign finance issues such as dark money and outside spending disclosure, foreign-funding restrictions, digital/streaming political advertising, and ballot initiatives affecting campaign finance regulation is required.
- Demonstrated ability to collect and analyze campaign finance disclosure data, including experience working with state and federal electronic filing and disclosure systems and with online political advertising transparency archives.
- Advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred.
- A demonstrated understanding of Michigan’s political dynamics with emphasis on electoral issues, and previous experience working in Michigan and/or the broader Midwest region, is strongly preferred. Applicants without Michigan experience should address in their cover letter how they have previously come up to speed on an unfamiliar state or subnational legal and disclosure framework.
- Demonstrated legal experience and knowledge of election law and obligations concerning campaign finance, human rights, and electoral rights. A law degree is preferred but not required, provided the applicant can demonstrate equivalent experience analyzing election and campaign finance law.
- Excellent organizational, oral, and written communication skills.
- Leadership skills, cross-cultural understanding, the ability to engage credibly with stakeholders across the partisan spectrum, and a background working in sensitive political situations are required.
- Availability to travel to Michigan as required.
To be considered for this position, provide your application details and upload a CV/resume and cover letter in support of your application at the following link:
Michigan Consultancy Application – Intellistack
If you have questions, please email: Elias.Davis@cartercenter.org
Only applications received through this link will be considered.
As this is a domestic election observation project, applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. Only those candidates selected for additional consideration will be notified.