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 to the Center’s US Elections Project.
Start date: As soon as possible.
Location: Remote
Pay: Commensurate with experience
Length of Assignment: Through May 31, 2024
The Democracy Program at The Carter Center works globally to support and strengthen participatory democracy, consistent with human rights. Beginning in 2020, The Carter Center began efforts to support elections in the United States. There are multiple key aspects to this project: establishing nonpartisan observation efforts, bolstering the electoral dispute resolution process, tracking disinformation and dangerous speech, contributing to electoral reform, and promoting a set of candidate principles for trusted elections.
The Democracy Program encourages nonpartisan election observation (NEO) activities across many projects throughout the US. As NEO activities become more normalized in the US, there is a growing need for local actors and organizations to be equipped with the necessary information and resources to perform nonpartisan election observation efficiently. The Democracy Program seeks a talented individual who can assist in creating a draft observation toolkit for these stakeholders across the US.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
Phase I: Information Gathering (2 to 3 weeks)
- Become familiar with the legal framework for nonpartisan election observation in the United States;
- Become familiar with The Carter Center’s methodology for conducting nonpartisan election observation;
- Review available Carter Center training materials focused on election observation;
Phase 2: Developing initial draft (3 to 5 weeks)
- Develop initial drafts of materials that can guide other nonpartisan organizations in how to field a nonpartisan election observation project taking care to include the following subjects:
- Objectives of nonpartisan election observation,
- Overview of the electoral process,
- How to assess the legal and electoral framework,
- How to develop an observation checklist,
- Best practices for volunteer recruitment, training, and management,
- What observers should expect from others who may be present during election processes,
- How to receive accreditation as an observer,
- Safety and security of observers,
- Compensating Observers,
- Guidelines on data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, and data storage,
- Things to consider when developing reports and public statements, and
- End of observation activities;
- Submit drafts to Carter Center Staff and their delegates for notes and review;
- Coordinate with other consultants and staff as necessary to ensure coverage of relevant topics and alert Carter Center Staff and their delegates to items that should be included in the observation toolkit;
Phase 3: Revising Initial Draft (2 to 3 weeks)
- Following completion of phase II, incorporate notes received from Carter Center staff and their delegates into initial drafts; and
- Return a revised draft of the observation toolkit to Carter Center staff and their delegates with recommendations for improvements that you were unable to incorporate in the window of completion.
Preferred qualifications:
- 7+ years of experience and knowledge with citizen observation and international election observation
- Ability to quickly familiarize oneself with the election and voting process in the U.S.;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
To apply, please fill out the form at the link below and attach a CV and Cover Letter.
https://filerequestpro.com/up/uselectionsrecruiting
Only applications submitted at the above site will be considered.
Deadline for submissions:
Applications accepted until February 1st, 2024. Interested parties are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
Only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. No separate emails, phone calls, or in-person contacts, please.