SUMMER 2026 LEGAL INTERNSHIP

Fair Elections Center is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit voting rights and election reform organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to use litigation and advocacy to remove barriers to registration and voting, particularly those disenfranchising underrepresented and marginalized communities, and to improve election administration.

The Center litigates voting rights cases in federal and state court and engages in a wide variety of advocacy efforts, including: drafting state legislation to protect and expand voting rights and submitting testimony in support of positive reforms; advocating to defeat voter suppression bills and rules; producing reports, talking points, and fact sheets on election modernization proposals and issues affecting voters of color and members of language minority groups; updating our state voter guides for all 50 states; and working directly with Secretaries of State and local election officials to ensure that the right to vote is protected and expanded. We provide election law expertise to state-based civic engagement coalitions, college campuses and their students, and community organizations that need help as they plan their programs, encounter problems, and engage election officials.

Position, Duties & Responsibilities

Fair Elections Center is seeking current law students with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated commitment to civil rights and/or voting rights for a Summer 2026 internship. The Center has an expanding litigation docket, including pending challenges to Virginia’s arbitrary voting rights restoration scheme for people with felony convictions, Arizona’s new citizenship checks for voter registration which will impede naturalized voters’ participation, and a Wisconsin law mandating the rejection of absentee ballots for minor technical defects.

The intern’s primary responsibility will be to support the legal team’s work to identify and respond to legal and administrative obstacles to voter participation. Duties will include legal research and writing for pending and future voting rights litigation, legislative advocacy, and reports; investigating relevant legal, rulemaking or legislative proceedings for legal violations; and interacting with election reform organizations and key elections officials to advocate for changes that will protect the right to vote.

This is a great opportunity for exposure to election law and cutting-edge voting rights litigation for someone who is a self-starter and comfortable handling significant responsibility. Must possess strong legal research and analytical skills, as well as strong written and oral communication skills. Ability to meet deadlines is required.

Summer 2026 Internship positions require approximately 45 days of full-time work over a 50-business-day period. Please note that the summer internship requires you to apply for school funding if offered by your institution. Fair Elections Center will then cover the difference between $6,000 and any school funding obtained. We are happy to assist you in filling out paperwork for funding. Fair Elections Center is a remote organization, so summer interns will work remotely.

Fair Elections Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity in our work environment and believe it furthers our mission to create and preserve an inclusive democracy for all voters and underrepresented and marginalized communities in particular. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.