The ACLU of Washington (ACLU) is a non-profit public interest organization devoted to protecting civil rights and civil liberties. Its staff of 30+ employees and numerous volunteers work in a fast-paced, friendly and professional office in downtown Seattle.
We are seeking a Voting Rights Researcher to help identify jurisdictions in Washington that fall short of providing fair and open voting and elections practices. In particular the ACLU is investigating whether electoral practices provide racial and ethnic minorities a meaningful voice in local government and whether counties are recognizing the rights of all voters. The Voting Rights Researcher will be a member of the Legal Department and supervised by a Staff Attorney.
This is a 9-month position.
ACLU OVERVIEW
The ACLU of Washington is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the country’s premier guardian of liberty. We work in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect and extend rights to freedom, fairness and equality. The ACLU is both nonprofit and nonpartisan.
Whether it is ending mass incarceration and police brutality, achieving full equality for LGBT people, protecting privacy in the digital age, preserving the right to vote, or ensuring reproductive freedom, the ACLU is willing to take on tough civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. And we’re successful. In the past year in Washington State, we’ve won a lawsuit for a gay couple who was denied service by their local florist, a major victory for Latino voting rights in Yakima, a ruling that stops the horrific practice of warehousing mentally ill persons in jails without mental health treatment, and much more. The ACLU stands for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or political views.
PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Review state and local laws to identify the types of election systems utilized by counties, cities, and school boards across the state;
Review past election data and research voting trends in selected jurisdictions in the state;
Consult with statisticians to develop a broad understanding of voting trends in jurisdictions across Washington State;
Research implementation of the Voting Rights Restoration Act, which automatically restored the right to vote of any person convicted of a felony once they are no longer under Department of Corrections supervision;
Research court practices regarding the Voting Rights Restoration Act;
Identify communities with significant limited English proficient voters in Washington State;
Prepare reports detailing voting trends and practices in Washington State;
Other related activities as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will be self-motivated, able to work independently, enjoy reviewing and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and excel at synthesizing volumes of information into easily digestible formats. Specifically, candidates should have the following qualifications:
The ability to analyze complex information from a variety of sources, including Census data, election information and personal narratives, to develop a portrait of voting trends in Washington State;
Experience conducting multifaceted research projects that involve statistics;
Experience on a research team or conducting complex independent research project;
Effective written and oral communications skills which will be used to obtain data and information from experts and government officials and to write clear and accurate reports;
Strong interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers;
Computer literate with experience working with database programs required;
A history of reliability, conscientiousness, and timeliness;
A commitment to diversity;
A personal approach that values the individual and respects difference of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and social-economic circumstance;
Strong support of the ACLU and familiarity with civil rights and civil liberties issues;
B.A. or advanced degree with professional-level work experience.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice. This position is “exempt” under the Fair Labor Standards Act
How to apply
To apply, email a letter of application and resume to Jobs@aclu-wa.org and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and Voting Rights Researcher. In your letter, please indicate where you learned of the posting. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, at which time the job announcement will be removed from our website at www.ACLU-WA.org/AboutUs/Jobs.
The ACLU is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages qualified individuals of every race, creed, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression to apply.
The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”