Election Administration Fellowship

A paid summer program run by U‑M’s Initiative for Democracy & Civic Empowerment (DCE) that places students in Michigan city and county election offices to support election operations and learn election administration firsthand.

Work varies by site and timing, but may include supporting election logistics, absentee ballot processing preparation, voter registration and election workflow support (as appropriate), poll worker recruitment and training support, and Election Day/post-election support — always under supervision and following office procedures.

Approximately June through mid‑August. The internship averages ~30 hours/week, but hours flex with the election calendar. You should expect to work a full day on Election Day for the August primary, with lighter weeks following when feasible.

Placements are in-person in Michigan city or county election offices statewide. During the interview process, DCE matches interns based on preferences, site needs, and capacity. The potential sites include Ann Arbor, Canton, Dearborn, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Flint , Grand Rapids, Lansing, Livonia, Marquette, Ottawa County, Pontiac, Sterling Heights, Traverse City, and Ypsilanti. We still encourage students to apply with limited geographic availability, as you can decline the position if we are unable to match you with a geographic fit despite our best efforts.

Interns are expected to determine their own transportation to and from the election office of the jurisdiction they are placed in.

Yes — interns are paid ($18/hr). To ensure equitable access to the program, if students are moving to a third location for the program, – away from their campus or home community – we will offer up to $1,000 travel relocation stipend.

Yes. You’ll have dual support: an on-site supervisor at the election office for day-to-day work and the DCE Program Manager for regular check-ins and program support. Interns also participate in a cohort with peer discussion and guest speakers.

The program will be able to support 8 to 12 student interns. The interns will be placed within separate election offices across the state, but there will be an opportunity for cohort activities.

Current U‑M undergraduate and graduate students (including the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campus). All levels of currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are eligible, including incoming second-year students. No prior election experience required — reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail are essential.

Due to some possible responsibilities requiring workers to be registered voters, international students or non-US citizens are not eligible for the internship program.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We recommend interested students complete applications early to have more options for jurisdiction placement.

If the FAQ didn't answer your question, please reach out to Landon Myers at [email protected] for an answer!