"We conduct accessible, secure, and accurate elections."
- King County Elections Mission Statement

The Department of Elections at King County is committed to civic engagement and voter education to increase voter participation and eliminate barriers to voting. We work year-round to be the leader in providing inclusive elections. The Elections Outreach team is responsible for engaging with, educating, and registering all our communities of voters and future voters. The Civic Education Interns will be involved in reaching out to high schools in King County, with a special focus on South King County during the 2026/2027 academic year.

The Department of Elections has a great opportunity for Civic Engagement Intern(s) that will support the ongoing outreach, by:

• Working across teams to develop and implement a civic education program; and
• Outreach to young voters, specifically within high schools in King County

• Public Speaking and professional written communications;
• Working in both office and field environments;
• Independent professional work and time management; and
• Working with diverse peers in small groups

• Learn and communicate knowledge about King County's elections process;
• Create civic engagement and election education content;
• Conduct outreach with high school students;
• Present civic education materials and engage with voters and future voters; and
• Other administrative tasks performed as necessary.
  

• Must be able to commit at least one weekday for this internship during high school operational hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00am-3:30pm);
• Must be enrolled in college or a high school student in a Running Start Program;
• Must have reliable transportation;
• Must be at least 16 years old when the program begins on August 6;
• Passion for civic education and increasing voter participation;
• Experienced in presenting complex information in plain, accessible language;
• Have excellent communication skills; and
• Have current and valid identification and proof of eligibility for employment in the U.S.

Classification is based on current education enrollment; the following are classifications and hourly pay rate ranges the applicant will be considered for:

• Intern 1 (High School Student Intern) - Compensation: $20.99 - $26.60

• Intern 2 (Undergraduate Student Intern) - Compensation Range: $22.01 - $27.90

Work Location

• Interns will visit various high school campuses in King County, mainly South King County. Interns will be required to come to the King County Election Headquarters (919 SW Grady Way, Renton, WA 98057).

• Travel to work locations throughout King County with limited or no public transportation services is required. A valid Washington State Driver's License is required to operate King County vehicles.

This position is not benefits eligible; however, interns will be eligible to receive a regional bus pass during their assignment.

Schedule

• Start Date for the internship is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026, with Orientation, Office Tour, and Training.

• Must be able to commit at least one weekday for this internship during high school operational hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00am-3:30pm). This position is part-time (up to 5 hours per week). The hours are flexible after orientation through May 28th, 2027, with some in the office and remote work.

• Interns must commit to the duration of their assignment and be able to travel at least one day per week for presentations and trainings that take place throughout South King County.

Union Affiliation: This position is not represented.

Who May Apply: this position is open to all students enrolled in college or a high school student in a Running Start Program.

To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

A complete application will have the following elements:

• Resume

• Cover Letter that explains experience and answers the following questions:

  1. Why are you interested in this internship (200 words max);

  2. In your opinion, what excites young (or future) voters about participating in the voting process (200 words max);

  3. How have you engaged with your community (If you are new to community engagement) How do you hope to engage with your community (200 words max); and

  4. Tell us a little bit about your plans for the next academic year.

• Applicants selected to move forward in the process must be able to attend an in-person interview scheduled for the week of July 13, 2026. If selected for an interview, you will be asked to present a five-minute PowerPoint presentation on a topic assigned to you.

If you need this announcement in an alternate format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process please contact King County Elections HR Analyst Jeremy Rivera at jeremy.rivera@kingcounty.gov.

This position is not eligible for King County leave, holiday, insurance, or other benefits. Please contact the recruiter on the posting for any additional questions regarding associated benefits.

For questions about the internship program please contact program leads: KC Jung Kyung.Jung@kingcounty.gov or Said Shekuna at sshekuna@kingcounty.gov.

Forbes named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.