The Associated Press (AP), one of the world’s most respected and trusted news organizations, is currently seeking applications for the position of International Elections Researcher based in Washington, D.C., United States. This exciting opportunity is ideal for professionals passionate about democracy, elections, political systems, comparative politics, and international affairs.
As AP expands its global election reporting capabilities, the organization is building a specialized team dedicated to covering election results beyond the United States. The successful candidate will play a critical role in developing a new international elections reporting product that supports accurate, timely, and fact-based journalism worldwide.
The application deadline is June 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.
About The Associated Press
Founded in 1846, The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual, unbiased, and accurate reporting. AP journalism reaches more than half of the world’s population every day through newspapers, television broadcasters, radio stations, websites, and digital platforms.
The organization is widely recognized for maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity and innovation while delivering trusted news coverage across the globe.
About the International Elections Researcher Position
The International Elections Researcher will join AP’s Elections Team and contribute to the organization’s growing international election coverage initiative.
The role focuses on researching electoral systems, election administration processes, voting mechanisms, election data sources, and result-reporting structures across leading democracies worldwide.
This position is particularly suited for individuals who enjoy investigating how elections function in different countries and who can translate complex political systems into reliable data and documentation that support journalistic reporting.
The researcher will report directly to the International Elections News Manager and collaborate with journalists, developers, data scientists, quality assurance teams, and multimedia professionals.
Key Responsibilities
Successful candidates will be responsible for a wide range of election-related research and data activities, including:
International Election Research
- Build and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base of international election information.
- Develop country election profiles and electoral system documentation.
- Create inventories of election data sources and electoral authorities.
- Maintain international election calendars.
Election Systems Analysis
- Research how elections are conducted in different countries.
- Document voting systems and electoral procedures.
- Analyze methods used by governments and electoral commissions to report results.
- Identify trusted and reliable election-result sources.
Election Data Collection and Verification
- Evaluate official and third-party election data providers.
- Assess reliability, accessibility, update frequency, and quality of election data.
- Support AP’s election results verification process.
- Help maintain AP’s standards of factual, nonpartisan journalism.
Pre-Election Research
For each election, researchers will compile detailed information on:
- Government structures.
- Legislative systems.
- Electoral frameworks.
- Political parties.
- Major candidates.
- Election administration processes.
Cross-Department Collaboration
The role requires close collaboration with:
- Journalists
- Data scientists
- Software developers
- Graphics teams
- Audio and video teams
- Interactive news teams
- Social media teams
This collaboration ensures that election information is accurately integrated across AP’s global reporting platforms.
Qualifications and Requirements
To be considered for this position, candidates should possess strong academic, research, and analytical backgrounds.
Educational Background
Applicants must have either:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Journalism, Research, or a related discipline; or
- At least two years of professional experience in election research, political analysis, or election-related journalism.
Technical Skills
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Strong research and information-gathering abilities.
- Experience evaluating government databases and public information sources.
- Ability to synthesize information from diverse and unfamiliar sources.
- Proficiency with Excel, Google Sheets, or similar spreadsheet tools.
- Experience with databases and data storage tools such as MongoDB and AWS S3 is advantageous.
- Knowledge of SQL, Python, or other programming languages is considered a plus.
Language Requirements
Applicants must possess:
- Advanced professional competency in English.
- Professional proficiency in at least one language other than English.
Work Requirements
Candidates must:
- Be authorized to work in the United States or be capable of obtaining work authorization.
- Be willing to work evenings, nights, weekends, and across different time zones when necessary.
- Thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven newsroom environment.
Preferred Qualifications
The Associated Press is particularly interested in candidates who have experience with:
- Comparative politics research.
- International election observation missions.
- Democracy and governance programs.
- Political risk analysis.
- Election administration research.
- Academic research involving electoral systems.
- Cross-country policy analysis.
Candidates with experience navigating foreign-language government websites and international electoral commission databases will have an added advantage.
Salary and Benefits
The position offers a competitive salary under AP’s agreement with the News Media Guild.
Salary Range
- Minimum Annual Salary: $53,477.32
- Maximum Annual Salary: $85,214.48
Actual compensation may vary depending on:
- Location
- Experience
- Qualifications
- Specialized skills
Employee Benefits
Successful candidates will enjoy an extensive benefits package, including:
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Dental coverage
- Vision insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Company-paid life insurance
- Paid vacation days
- Paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave
- Mental health and well-being resources
- Professional development opportunities
- Access to mentorship and career growth programs
Why Join The Associated Press?
Working at AP provides a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the world’s most influential news organizations while helping shape the future of international election reporting.
Benefits of joining AP include:
- Working with a globally respected news organization.
- Supporting democracy and election transparency worldwide.
- Collaborating with experts in journalism, technology, and data science.
- Building expertise in comparative political systems.
- Contributing to innovative election reporting products.
- Accessing professional growth and leadership opportunities.
- Working in an inclusive and mission-driven environment.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the International Elections Researcher position is:
June 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit their applications through the Associated Press Careers Portal.
Prepare the following:
- Updated CV or resume.
- Cover letter highlighting relevant election research experience.
- Examples of relevant research, journalism, or analytical work (if applicable).
Candidates who may not meet every listed requirement but possess strong transferable skills are encouraged to apply and explain their qualifications in their cover letter.
Final Thoughts
The Associated Press International Elections Researcher position offers a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of journalism, politics, data analysis, and global democracy. With a competitive salary, strong benefits package, and the chance to help build AP’s international elections reporting infrastructure, this role is ideal for professionals passionate about elections, governance, and factual reporting.
For researchers, journalists, political scientists, and democracy practitioners seeking a meaningful international career opportunity, this position represents an excellent chance to contribute to one of the world’s most trusted news organizations.
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