GRADUATE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
The Cross-Divisional Team of the ACLU National Political Advocacy Department has an opening for a Graduate Intern, Electoral.
The electoral program aims to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties by educating voters on the policy positions of candidates on ACLU priority issues. The new Electoral Intern will be a crucial part of our growing team, supporting the strategy and implementation work of both the Senior Advisor and the Campaign Strategist for Electoral Candidate Races, reporting to the Campaign Strategist.
Candidates with a strong interest in electoral politics, communications and the advancement of civil liberties are encouraged to apply. Please note that the majority of the Cross-Divisional Team works remotely and this is a remote internship. Candidates based in proximity to an ACLU National office may request hybrid work.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Tracking and organizing electoral data (we have many spreadsheets)
- Coordinating meetings, maintaining agendas, note-taking, other administrative duties
- Researching candidates or electoral opportunities
- Engage in other duties and special projects as assigned
- Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
This posting provides a general but not comprehensive list of the opportunities of the internship.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
This internship is open to students who have completed an undergraduate degree and/or at least one year of a graduate degree in political science or a related field. (Please note: this is not a legal internship and the electoral intern will not have any opportunity for litigation-related work.)
- Excellent written/verbal communication and research skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, strong attention to detail, ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
- Location: Due to COVID-19 our offices are currently operating in reduced capacities. We plan to launch an internship program that offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. Candidates for this internship who are located in proximity to the DC office may opt to work with us in-person following a hybrid (part in-person and part-remote) schedule.
- Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full-time commitment of 35 hours per week.
- Internship Duration: Full-time internships extend for a 10-week period and begin either May 30 or June 12, 2023.
- Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who do not receive course credit and are lawfully authorized to work. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for that term, if applicable. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below is the stipend breakdown by term:
- $18.57/hour forundergraduate students or equivalent experience and $21.42/hour for graduate and law students or equivalent experience.
- Application deadline: Applications will be accepted until mid-March or until filled.
How to apply
Click the "Apply for this job" link.
Please attach the following to your application, noting the specifications and page count:
- Resume (max. 1 page)
- Cover letter (max. 1 page): a brief statement about why you want to work at the ACLU and on our electoral program, your relevant experience and what you would bring to the position, and how this internship would support your career objectives. This is to put your resume & application in context.
- Research sample (max. 5 pages): this can be an excerpt from a term paper, thesis, etc, and should include thorough footnotes and a bibliography. It may be on a subject related to US electoral politics, or another area that demonstrates original thinking and investigation. This is to showcase your research abilities.
- Short writing sample (max. 1 page): The ACLU often engages in down-ballot races (e.g. Secretaries of State, State Supreme Courts, sheriffs, etc). Please write an informal but professional email to the hiring manager describing your interest in down-ballot races. Some suggested prompts: Is there a statewide or lower elected office you think people should care more about when it comes to civil rights and civil liberties issues? Was there a candidate that impressed you in 2022, or that you’ll be watching in 2023 or 2024? What interests you, and do you see any major opportunities and obstacles for that office or candidate? This is to showcase your analytical and strategic thinking skills.
ABOUT THE ACLU
The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.
Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.
The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.