Election Certification & Canvass Associate

Michigan United•Detroit, MI

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Election Certification & Canvass Associate is a specialized 5-month surge role joining the Democracy & Election Administration / Voter Access Protection (DEAVAPS) team from August 15th, 2026, through January 15th, 2027. While this role provides vital operational support in the lead-up to the General Election, its primary mission begins when most election programs start winding down: the post-election window. A complete democracy requires four distinct stages: voters cast their ballots, votes are counted, the election is certified, and elected leaders are sworn into office. Most election defense programs focus almost exclusively on the first two phases. Michigan United is committed to protecting all four. From November 4 through mid-January, the Election Certification & Canvass Associate serves as the operational anchor ensuring that vote tabulation, county canvassing, state certification, and swearing-in ceremonies happen smoothly, transparently, and with organized community presence. This role is ideal for a focused organizer and campaign manager who thrives in dynamic environments, understands Michigan’s post-election legal process, and knows how to translate complex administrative timelines into organized community visibility. The position concludes on January 15, 2027, with real, lasting deliverables—including fully documented canvass logs across all target counties, a well-informed community base, and a comprehensive transition memo for future cycles.

Requirements

Minimum 2 years of experience in community organizing, civic engagement, campaign management, or a closely related field.
Proven track record of turning contact lists into real-world public participation and meeting attendance.
Familiarity with (or the ability to quickly master) Michigan’s post-election canvass, certification, and Board of Canvassers processes.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Comfortable producing weekly updates, public education materials, and strategic hand-off memos.
High emotional intelligence and composure. Ability to remain grounded, focused, and systematic during dynamic or high-stakes moments.
Ability to work non-standard hours during the post-election window, including evenings for BOC meetings and weekends during active canvassing.
Valid Michigan driver’s license and access to reliable transportation across our six target counties.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with post-election monitoring, Board of Canvassers observation, or legal observing.
Background in rapid-response mobilization and managing volunteer teams in dynamic settings.
Familiarity with Michigan United’s partner ecosystem and community dynamics in Wayne, Genesee, Saginaw, Oakland, Washtenaw, or Macomb counties.
Experience with community accountability campaigns or direct-action logistics.

Responsibilities

Map out Board of Canvassers (BOC) meeting schedules, locations, contact info, and operational protocols across all six target counties (Wayne, Genesee, Saginaw, Oakland, Washtenaw, Macomb) by November 1.
Confirm access protocols, key contacts, and site logistics for main counting centers with county clerks by October 15.
Recruit and prepare a cohort of 50+ trained certification observers and counting center monitors ahead of Election Day.
Build an active post-election mobilization list of 200+ community members who can be activated for public meetings or rapid response actions.
Coordinate with the Election Legal Volunteer Corps to build an attorney on-call schedule for canvass coverage and BOC meetings.
Assist with logistics for the General Election Protection Summit (September 2026) and United Wednesdays events as needed.
Maintain an active county-by-county certification status dashboard covering canvass start dates, meeting schedules, statutory deadlines, and current progress.
Monitor Michigan certification deadlines (MCL 168.821 for county canvass; MCL 168.822 for county certification; MCL 168.842 for state canvass) and flag any potential delays immediately to the Deputy Director.
Coordinate organized, disciplined community attendance at county Board of Canvassers meetings, handling scheduling, transportation, and conduct briefings.
Review meeting agendas and notes across target counties, escalating any procedural irregularities or unexpected motions to the Deputy Director and legal teams within one hour.
Schedule and manage legal observer coverage at BOC meetings in partnership with the Election Legal Volunteer Corps.
Monitor and document progress through the final State Board of Canvassers certification phase through mid-December.
Coordinate community observer schedules at major vote counting centers in Wayne, Genesee, Saginaw, Oakland, and Macomb counties from Election Night through the close of the canvass.
Brief and deploy Democracy Defenders, managing real-time communication, scheduling, and transportation support.
Maintain a daily counting center coverage log, sharing end-of-day summaries with the Deputy Director.
Document and route any operational or media-worthy incidents through our internal escalation protocol within 30 minutes.
Maintain and activate the 200+ person mobilization roster when public presence is needed at county buildings, BOC meetings, or state offices, at the explicit direction of the Deputy Director.
Work alongside trusted community messengers to produce clear, direct content explaining the canvass and certification process.
Partner with statewide tables (such as the Michigan Alignment Table) on joint certification defense efforts when directed.
Host plain-language Know Your Rights: The Full Arc of Democracy sessions across our 16 target municipalities.
Partner with the Communications team to create accessible flyers, social posts, and talking points breaking down the certification timeline and why public observation matters.
Anchor post-election educational themes at United Wednesdays gatherings.
Monitor and document swearing-in ceremonies and official installations across target jurisdictions through mid-January.
Co-host post-certification community celebration events in partnership with the Voter Services and Access Associate.
Produce a comprehensive end-of-term transition memo by January 10, 2027, archiving all coverage logs, contact sheets, systems workflows, and strategic notes to preserve institutional memory for 2027 and beyond.