Ballot Measures Staff Writer (Remote)

Ballotpedia; United States; Remote; USD 42,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Ballotpedia is seeking a full-time Staff Writer for its Ballot Measures Team, focused on producing clear, neutral content about ballot measures and the processes that surround them. This remote role requires expertise in U.S. politics and exceptional writing abilities, contributing to a mission-driven organization dedicated to delivering unbiased information about elections and public policy.

Benefits

Unlimited vacation

Flexible scheduling

Annual benefits stipend equivalent to $8,000

Qualifications

• Strong interest in U.S. politics.
• Commitment to writing clearly and neutrally.
• Experience with spreadsheets and structured workflows or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Produce accurate articles about ballot measures.
• Track measures and updates through state websites.
• Analyze voting data and trends.

Skills

Writing skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Time management

Political interest

Tools

Google Suite

Slack

Asana

Job description

The Position

Ballotpedia seeks a full-time, 100% remote Staff Writer to join our Ballot Measures Team.

The staff writer’s role is to strengthen Ballotpedia’s coverage of direct democracy by producing clear, accurate, and neutral content that helps readers understand ballot measures and the processes behind them.

The Ballot Measures Team covers state, local, and historical ballot measures, as well as the laws that govern how ballot measures work. This includes:

• Tracking every phase of the ballot measure process—from signature petitions and legislative votes to post-election aftermath;
• Explaining what each measure would do and how it fits into the broader political context;
• Following campaigns, including campaign finance, endorsements, polls, and arguments;
• Covering the elections themselves and reporting on what happens after the vote;
• Aggregating ballot measure data to uncover trends and produce original analysis.

To succeed at Ballotpedia, you must be self-aware and personally invested in constant improvement. You must be able to write about complex topics in a neutral, clear, and accessible manner. You must care deeply about the reader’s experience and be committed to developing expertise in your subject area (ballot measures) and how it works.

To understand the type of subject-matter expertise you will be expected to develop in this role, please read the following excerpts from Ballotpedia:

“Voters in Ohio will decide on a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment to establish the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC), a 15-member non-politician commission responsible for adopting state legislative and congressional redistricting plans. On July 23, the initiative was certified for the general election on Nov. 5. … The campaign supporting the initiative, Citizens Not Politicians, raised $26.95 million, as of the campaign finance reports released on July 31. That’s a record for a ballot measure to create a non-politician redistricting commission, also known as an independent redistricting commission.”

“Proposal 2 would add several voting and election policies to the Michigan Constitution. Some of these policies would be new, such as early voting. Others exist as state statutes and would be codified as constitutional law, such as the state's requirement that voters show identification or sign an affidavit when voting in person. … As provisions of the Michigan Constitution, legislators would not be able to repeal or amend these policies without first passing a constitutional amendment, which would require voter approval.”

“Voters have decided on at least nine ballot measures related to religion in public schools during the past 100 years. The decade with the highest number was in the 1970s, when voters decided on four between 1970 and 1972. Topics included the Ten Commandments, the Bible, prayer and contemplation, religious clothing, excused absence for religious instruction, and students’ religious rights.”

Responsibilities

As a Ballot Measures Staff Writer, you will:

• Produce clear, accurate, and accessible articles that explain complex ballot measures in plain, neutral language, aligned with Ballotpedia’s editorial standards.
• Develop expertise in your assigned states, including how the ballot measure process works in those states.
• Track the status of measures in assigned states through state and legislative websites.
• Monitor the news for relevant updates, including endorsements, polls, and arguments, and add relevant information to pages and the database.
• Track and aggregate campaign finance for ballot measure PACs.
• Track, summarize, and analyze legislation that impacts the ballot measure process, update related content on ballot measure laws, and identify areas where new explanatory pages are needed.
• Research to find historical information on ballot measures from prior decades, including from government websites, newspaper archives, and other resources.
• Analyze state, local, and historical ballot measure data and publish analyses.
• Create new content based on emerging trends and data analysis.
• Generate news stories for Ballotpedia News and our newsletters, including the Daily Brew.
• Collaborate with editors to refine and improve content, and incorporate feedback on a clear timeline.
• Ensure that your team's managing editor, team lead, and team members are informed about your progress by attending short, scheduled weekly meetings and regularly updating Asana tasks.
• Use and master tools such as templates, spreadsheets, and our database.
• Use the Ballotpedia database according to established processes.
• Contribute to Ballotpedia’s election night coverage, including updating election results in real-time.
• Cover assigned breaking news shifts outside of regular working hours during infrequent, scheduled on-call shifts (about 3-4 weeknights and 1-2 weekends per year).
• Participate in podcasts, videos, webinars, or media interviews as needed, with opportunities increasing with experience.
• Learn and master Ballotpedia’s Style Guide (which is based on the AP Stylebook).

Skills and Qualifications

An ideal Ballot Measures Staff Writer will possess the following:

• A strong interest in U.S. politics and attentiveness to ongoing political developments.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to explain complex policies clearly and neutrally, and a commitment to accuracy, clarity, and continuous improvement.
• Strong time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize effectively and meet deadlines.
• Flexibility to adapt quickly as political developments or editorial priorities shift.
• Ability to independently monitor news sources and government websites for updates on measures, campaigns, and legislation.
• Ability to analyze data and identify trends.
• Ability to recognize how readers with different political views, needs, or goals might interpret content, and to ensure it is accessible and balanced.
• Attention to detail and strong proofreading skills, with the ability to follow Ballotpedia’s style guide (based on the AP Stylebook).
• Ability to handle critical feedback well, with a focus on using it to improve quality and deepen expertise.
• Curiosity and initiative to identify knowledge gaps, seek out documentation, ask thoughtful questions, and build subject-matter expertise over time.
• Experience with spreadsheets, templates, and structured workflows, or a willingness to learn and grow in those areas.
• Interest in or experience using AI tools to increase productivity.

Environment

The Ballot Measures Staff Writer will work remotely from their home location. All Ballotpedia staff work remotely. To join Ballotpedia, you must have a computer with internet access. Ballotpedia uses Google Suite (Gmail, Google Calendar, Drive, and more), Slack, and Asana to accomplish our goals. Working familiarity and/or experience with these or similar platforms is highly desirable.

Ballotpedia offers a flexible work environment, BP Flex, which allows every employee to enjoy unlimited vacation and flexibility in scheduling. During new employee training, each employee will be oriented to the principles of Ballotpedia’s flexible environment.

Compensation

The starting pay range for the Ballot Measures Team Staff Writer is $42,500-44,000, commensurate with experience.

In addition to salary, Ballotpedia offers an annual benefits stipend equivalent to $8,000 that is paid out in equal increments in each paycheck once an employee becomes benefits-eligible following a brief review period. The stipend may be used to pay for a full benefits package, including health, vision, dental insurance, retirement accounts, and more. If benefits are not elected, the stipend is taxed as regular income and added to salary.

To Apply

To apply, please visit our job opportunities page and complete an application on our website. Please attach the following in PDF format if possible:

• résumé
• cover letter detailing your interest in Ballotpedia’s mission/this position
• neutral writing sample (under five pages) included in the same file as your cover letter

Please ensure that your résumé or cover letter includes your current address.

Please note that if you are hired for this position, Ballotpedia participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Ballotpedia is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.

About Ballotpedia

Ballotpedia is a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing Americans with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about politics, elections, and public policy. Our mission is to ensure that the only unknown on your ballot is who gets your vote. We value innovation, humility, intellectual curiosity, drive, and a collaborative spirit and are committed to continuously improving our offerings to better serve our audiences, readers, and candidates.