Elections Intern (Auditor's Office)

Johnson County•Iowa City, IA

3d•$17 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision and in accordance with Iowa law, this internship is responsible for routine functions supporting the elections staff. The intern will represent Johnson County and perform duties in a professional, responsible, and trustworthy manner. This role requires the ability to read, interpret, explain, and apply provisions of the election code to specific situations, process and maintain accurate records, and perform technical and clerical tasks with a high degree of speed and accuracy. The intern will establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, employees, and the public, and interact effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is expected. The intern will use a computer for data entry, spreadsheets, word processing, email, and internet, and operate common office equipment. The role involves handling stress, meeting deadlines, solving problems, organizing and prioritizing responsibilities, and presenting information clearly. The intern must follow oral and written instructions and possess clear speech, hearing, sufficient vision, manual dexterity, and personal mobility to complete duties. Specific duties include following election laws, registering voters, updating registration records, entering/modifying voter information in a computer system, generating lists and reports, producing correspondence, scanning and filing documents, processing absentee ballots, and representing Johnson County in training and meetings. All work must be performed in accordance with County policies, procedures, and safety practices. The intern must attend work regularly and work Election Day in November. This is a fixed-term internship with a pay rate of $17.25/hour.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent; currently enrolled in a college or university.
Strong communication skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Strong computer skills.
Availability and ability to work a minimum of 12 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from August 24, 2026, through December 4, 2026.
Availability to work the following mandatory hours: Saturday, October 31, 2026: Daytime hours; Sunday, November 1, 2026: Daytime hours; Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Daytime and evening hours (Election Day).
Ability to represent Johnson County and perform duties in a professional, responsible and trustworthy manner.
Ability to read, interpret, explain and apply provisions of the election code to specific situations.
Ability to process and maintain accurate records.
Ability to perform technical and clerical tasks with a high degree of speed and accuracy.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with appointed and elected officials, other employees and members of the public.
Ability to interact effectively with persons from widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
Ability to use a computer for the purpose of data entry, spreadsheets, word processing, email and Internet.
Ability to operate common office equipment such as calculators, fax and postage machines, photocopiers, personal computers, and multi-line telephones.
Ability to handle low to high levels of stress, meet deadlines and solve problems appropriate to the position.
Ability to organize and prioritize multiple responsibilities.
Ability to organize and present factual information and ideas clearly and concisely, in both oral and written form.
Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
Clarity of speech and hearing which permits effective communication.
Sufficient vision which permits production and review a wide variety of materials both in hardcopy and electronic form.
Sufficient manual dexterity to make mechanical repairs, handwritten notations and which permits moderate use of a keyboard.
Sufficient personal mobility to complete duties at various worksites.
Ability to stand, sit, bend, twist, and reach.
Ability to lift, carry and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Computer troubleshooting skills.

Responsibilities

Follow election laws of Iowa.
Register Johnson County residents to vote and update registration records by accurately completing appropriate forms according to Iowa law.
Enter, update, delete or modify voter registration information in a computer system.
Generate lists and reports from internal and statewide registration systems and produce printed or electronic copies of segments of the lists as requested.
Produce, edit and revise correspondence including but not limited to e-mails, memos, reports, notices, forms, mailing labels, manuals, and special instructions.
Scan and file documents and maintain voter records on statewide system.
Process and distribute absentee ballots as requested by mail.
Process in-person and satellite requests for absentee ballots, completing all supporting documentation and reports and entering all necessary information on absentee, voter registration and poll-worker software.
Represent Johnson County and participates in training/education opportunities and work-related meetings as requested.
Perform all work duties and activities in accordance with County policies, procedures, and safety practices.
Attend work regularly at the designated place and time.
Work Election Day in November.
Any other job-related duties as assigned.