Jobs & Marketplace

Location: Washington, DC (Remote Possible)
Application Deadline: October 19, 2025 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT

About Us
The Center for Election Innovation & Research (“CEIR”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, whose core mission is to work with election officials and build confidence in elections that voters should trust and do trust. CEIR has a proven record of working in a nonpartisan manner with election officials from around the country and from both sides of the aisle. To achieve its goals, CEIR seeks to increase informed civic engagement by educating the public, providing support to election officials, and conducting practical research on best practices for election administration.

Position Overview
CEIR is seeking one or more Research Fellows to join our team and contribute to our research on elections that voters should—and do—trust. This role is an 18-month term-limited position with an expected start date of January 2026.

The Research Fellow will work under the direction of the Research Director and in collaboration with other colleagues to support CEIR’s research initiatives. These initiatives include matters pertaining to election administration, voter registration, voter access, and election integrity and security.

The Research Fellow will conduct policy research and draft written materials such as reports, issue briefs, and explainers for CEIR’s diverse audience of election officials, policymakers, the media, and other key stakeholders. This Research Fellow will be asked to focus on policy and statutory research, but the Fellow may contribute to other projects (such as data analysis) depending on interest and ability.

The Research Fellow will be closely engaged in the Research Team’s efforts to plan and execute research during the 2026 state legislative sessions, primaries and general elections, and post-election processes. The Research Fellow may have the opportunity to propose one or more projects in support of CEIR’s efforts to provide election officials with practical analysis about election administration and inform voters about how elections actually work.

This Fellowship is a full-time, term-limited position planned to last for 18 months (anticipated January 2026 until June 2027). Based on performance, interest, and organizational needs, there may be an opportunity for exceptional Fellows to transition to a permanent role at CEIR.

This Fellowship is intended for recent graduates of advanced degree programs, but all interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. This Fellowship will focus on research of interest to election administration practitioners and policymakers, and therefore is best suited to researchers interested in career paths outside of academia.

Key Responsibilities
• Conduct research into public policy issues related to CEIR’s research initiatives using rigorous policy research and/or data analysis methods
• Translate research into (1) external documents, such as issue briefs and research reports, and (2) internal documents, such as policy memos or plain language bill summaries
• Develop deep expertise on issues relevant to CEIR’s mission, including policies affecting election administration, voter registration, voter access, and election integrity and security
• Play a key role in discussions around project planning and research design
• Monitor trends, research, and publications in the election space to inform CEIR’s research portfolio
• Contribute to a team culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning, quality, collaboration, positivity, and transparency
• Maintain effective communication with team members and participate in regular team meetings

Qualifications
• Advanced degree (e.g., MA, MPP, PhD) in a related field. Preference will be given to applicants who have graduated from their program within the last four years.
• Demonstrated experience (which may include coursework) in topics of election administration, voter registration, voter access, election integrity and security, or related topics
• Demonstrated experience in public policy research, which may include: analyzing provisions in state and federal legislation; qualitative or quantitative research methods; or other skills with rigorous policy analysis. Additional skills in data analysis, such as data collection, manipulation, and management, are a plus.
• Proficiency with policy research tools (e.g., LexisNexis, Westlaw, BillTrack50). Additional proficiency with visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, R, Python) is preferred. Experience with statistical and data management tools (e.g., R, Stata, SPSS, Python, SQL) is a plus.
• Aptitude for analyzing, interpreting, and summarizing complex information from a variety of sources
• Ability to work objectively and in a nonpartisan manner with respect to CEIR’s research
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with an emphasis on detail and accuracy
• Excellent interpersonal skills and comfort working in a hybrid or remote environment
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion both in your work and in the workplace
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• A passion for getting nerdy about the details of election policy

Benefits
• Salary: $69,000
• One-year, full-time position
• Comprehensive benefits package, including:
o up to 100% of health, dental, and vision insurance premiums paid for by CEIR
o a 401(k) plan that vests immediately and with up to 5% match (i.e., CEIR matches 100% of your contributions up to 5% of your annual pay)
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Hybrid work environment (if approved for remote work, must travel occasionally for in-person meetings)

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following to https://electioninnovation.org/careers/apply/:
1. Resume or CV
2. Cover letter, highlighting topics within CEIR’s research area which most interest you and your experience/qualifications for such work (no more than 500 words)
3. A relevant writing sample, such as an issue brief or excerpt from published paper (no more than two pages or 500 words)
4. 2-3 references

Questions? Email us at jobs@electioninnovation.org

Review of applications will begin on October 8, 2025. All applications must be received by 9pm EDT / 6pm PDT on October 19, 2025.

CEIR is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees.