Election Education Intern; Community Service Aide II

The Position

The City Auditor’s Office is seeking two interns who are curious, analytical, and interested in learning about the work of Portland City Elections. This position will be critical in engaging with voters and educating the public on ranked choice voting, candidates, campaigns, and other areas of focus within City Elections. The position will last 12 weeks at 40 hours per week during late June, July, August and early September.

The Auditor is independent of City Council and accountable only to the public. The Auditor’s Office promotes open and accountable government by providing impartial reviews and investigations, access to public information, and services for City government and the public. It employs 50 staff members working in seven divisions.

Interns will work alongside five elections staff in City Elections and report to the Elections Education Supervisor. City Elections oversees elections processes such as required voter education on ranked choice voting, qualification to the ballot for candidates and petitions, and election results certification to City Council. City Elections also carries out services under the umbrella of campaign finance and lobbying regulations, including investigations and enforcement procedures.

City Elections provides information and training to candidates and voters and partners with other elections jurisdictions and City offices to provide voter education and carryout open, accountable, and transparent City Elections.

• Conducting community outreach to Citywide and culturally specific groups, including required attendance at several live events or community meetings, some of which will happen outside of traditional work hours;
• Assisting with logistics and organizing to prepare for voter education events and material;
• Shadowing local elections officials to learn their work;
• Attending and contributing to team and project meetings;
• Designing and implementing an independent project related to elections work and the individual’s academic interests;
• Applying a racial equity lens to projects and tasks and centering historically underserved communities in elections work;
• Exercising strong non-partisan decision-making and judgment at all times;
• Helping create, evaluate, and organize accessible information such as digital content, analyzing impacts of advertising approaches, and assisting with presentations about City Elections ;
• Researching state and local public policies, guidance, and leading practices;
• Working collaboratively with other City Offices, elected officials, community organizations, and elections jurisdictions;
• Collecting and analyzing voter education data;
• Demonstrating sound judgment, tact, and discretion in dealing with politically sensitive situations; and
• Communicating orally and in writing to a wide variety of individuals.

• Commitment to impartial and non-partisan voter and community education including strict adherence to all Auditor’s Office rules on disclosure/political activity;
• An interest in local government operations, administrative rules, and relevant local and state election law;
• Ability to help create and maintain relationships with community organizations led by and for communities of color and community leaders representing historically disenfranchised populations;
• A strong interest in public service and the ability to treat upset or agitated customers with respect, patience, and empathy;
• Demonstrated ability to work alongside others in a positive, supportive, and reflective team environment;
• Ability and a willingness to learn to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively, both orally and in writing to a wide variety of audiences in a political environment;
• Interest in learning a variety of communication formats and platforms, including collaborative and creative tools; and
• A commitment to government accountability and transparency.

Candidates must be:

• Enrolled as an undergraduate in good standing at an accredited college or university; OR
• Completed an associate or bachelor’s degree within the last year.

• Coursework in a…