Our National Internship Program offers positions in one of our six departments which provide interns an insider's look into how modern day campaigns attempt to manipulate voters emotionally, instead of informing them intellectually. National Interns are trained on how to defend each citizen's right to the facts as they work to collect and disseminate the voting records, issue positions, biographies, special interest evaluations, campaign finances, and public statements of every U.S. elected official and candidate. The work of our National Interns empowers voters by allowing them to instantly check the credibility of the misleading and deceptive messages that modern day elected officials and candidates bombard citizens with every election year.
1. Research: Examine biographies, key votes in the Congress and states' legislatures, special interest performance evaluations, campaign finances, public comments.
2. Political Courage Test: Measure each candidate's willingness to answer the public's questions and concerns on the major issues facing the nation.
3. Technology: Work on cutting-edge programming, interactivity, and data visualizations.
4. Development and Communications: Coordinate communication and outreach efforts with thousands of supporters, contributors, and members of the media throughout the nation.
6. Maintenance and Food Services: Aid in the support, housing and food services for all the volunteers, staff and students that come to Vote Smart's unique Great Divide Ranch high in the Montana Rocky Mountains.
We seek interns and volunteers that are truly committed to the following premise stated by our Founding Fathers: "A people that mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives." Accepted applicants will work in an extravagantly beautiful place with extraordinary people. The Great Divide Ranch, while fully-equipped to serve as our research headquarters, is also remotely-located and surrounded by one of Montana's great wilderness areas.
Student internships are available year-round. Recent graduates are encouraged to apply as this opportunity offers a great way to transition into the workforce while living in an extraordinary environment. All food, lodging and recreational costs are covered by one of the following scholarships:
- Bill Clements Scholarship
- Barry Goldwater Scholarship
- William Randolph Hearst Scholarships
- Seth Moore Scholarship
- Bill Proxmire Scholarship
