Election Organizer

Imagine Black (fka Portland African American Leadership Forum); Portland (OR); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transportation stipend

Job summary

Imagine Black is seeking Election Organizers for a temporary, seasonal contract from October 13, 2026 to November 3, 2026. The role focuses on field canvassing in Multnomah County and virtual phone banking to engage voters and support endorsed candidates.

You will join a team of 10+ organizers, work evenings and weekends, and report to the Field and Organizing Manager. The job emphasizes electoral justice, relationship building, and teamwork while using laptops and data tools to track outcomes.

Qualifications

• Commitment to Imagine Black's mission and electoral justice.
• Strong time management, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and ability to engage diverse communities.
• Access to a laptop, cellphone, wifi, and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Canvass door-to-door in Multnomah County to engage voters.
• Conduct virtual phone banking and use EveryAction/VAN to reach voters.
• Maintain canvassing materials inventory and report activities.
• Meet daily and weekly canvassing goals.

Skills

Time management

Public speaking

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Outdoors work

Bilingual

Problem solving

Tools

MiniVAN apps

EveryAction

Laptop/tech skills

Job description

Position: Election Organizer
Department: Movement Building
Supervisor: Field and Organizing Manager
Hourly Rate: $25/hour
Position & Status: Temporary, seasonal contract role
Allowances: Transportation Stipends
Training: Tuesday, October 13, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Term of employment: October 13, 2026 - November 3, 2026
Hours: 10 - 12 hours per week; evenings and weekends
Location: Field training will take place at the Imagine Black office in Old Town Portland. Field canvassing efforts will primarily occur in Multnomah County, OR, with the possibility of extended hours in neighboring counties.

Physical/Cognitive Details

• Door to Door Canvassing:
  • Ability to walk and stand for extended periods, potentially several hours at a time during varying weather conditions
  • Ability to walk on varied terrain, including sidewalks, stairs, grass, gravel, and uneven surfaces
  • Ability to move between multiple locations throughout a canvassing shift
  • Ability to carry a small amount of materials, such as flyers, clipboards, or a backpack, generally up to 10-15 pounds
• Virtual Phone Banking:
  • Ability to sit or remain stationary for extended periods, with flexibility to take breaks as needed
  • Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and phone throughout the shift
  • Ability to read information on a computer screen and enter data accurately
  • Ability to speak clearly and listen actively during phone conversations
• If you have any concerns about meeting these requirements or need an accommodation to perform the role, please reach out to us so we can discuss how we can support you.

Schedule

The overall schedule will look like one in-person canvass a week, one virtual phone bank a week, and a 1:1 check-in with staff before each phone banking shift. See calendar below for more details on shift times and dates.

About Us

At Imagine Black, we promote participatory democracy by supporting people's right to vote, have a voice in decisions that affect their lives, and shape the future of their communities. Imagine Black envisions a world where Black people and communities have the rights, resources, and opportunities to thrive, build power, and create the futures they want to see.

At Imagine Black, we have strengthened our commitment to a Black Queer Feminist (BQF) theory and practice. BQF provides a more holistic understanding of our conditions and connectedness as Black people. As a result, we understand that liberation for all Black people can only be realized by lifting up the voices and experiences and prioritizing the issues of historically silenced and vulnerable groups within Black communities - specifically, queer, trans and gender non-conforming (GNC), femme, poor, disabled, working and undocumented people (adapted from BYP100).

Imagine Black is a 501(c)(4) multi-issue grassroots organization in partnership with our sibling 501(c)(3) organization, Imagine Black Futures.

More information about Imagine Black can be found at imagineblack.org.

Who We're Looking For

Please note: We care more about your ability to get the job done than whether you have formal or informal experience. We encourage you to submit your application if this job excites you!

Imagine Black is launching a field program for the November 3, 2026 general election. Our Election Organizers will connect with Multnomah County voters, help them make a plan to vote, and build the kind of relationships that grow Black political power long after Election Day. This is a temporary, seasonal contract role (October 13th, 2026-November 3rd, 2026) focused on engaging voters, listening for the issues that matter most to them, and working as a team to reach our contact goals

We are seeking committed, contract temporary Election Organizers (you'll join an awesome team of 10+ other organizers) who will lead direct voter outreach and contact efforts for the November 2026 Election. With goals to increase voter turnout and support endorsed candidates, our Election Organizers will be instrumental in helping reach thousands of voters across Multnomah County, Oregon, to turn out the vote through virtual phone calls and in-person door canvassing. Election Organizers will be in charge of reaching out to voters to assist in making vote plans while gauging support in coordination with progressive candidates endorsed by Imagine Black. You'll learn about electoral organizing, phone banking, and door-to-door canvassing all while making a huge impact!

We're looking for people who are dedicated to building electoral justice, the political power of young people, and creating an accessible, accountable, and representative democracy. Our ideal candidates will enjoy building relationships, discussing and advocating for values-aligned candidates and ballot measures, and are collaborative, detail-oriented, and committed to racial, social, and gender justice. This position reports directly to and works closely with our Field and Organizing Manager.

TIMELINE

• Applications Close - open until filled
• Training - Tuesday, October 13, 5:00 - 8:00 pm
• Virtual Phone Banking Dates - Paid break time included
  • 5 hours: Thursday, October 15, 2026, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • 5 hours: Thursday, October 22, 2026, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • 5 hours: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• In-Person Door Knocking - Paid break time included
  • 7 hours: Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 7 hours: Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • 7 hours: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Elections Watch Party
  • 5 hours: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Position End Date - Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Responsibilities

• Canvassing door-to-door (in-person)
  • All canvassing efforts will be in support of candidates endorsed by Imagine Black in Multnomah County. You'll connect with hundreds of voters in support progressive champions who align with Imagine Black
  • Engaging strangers in conversation by going door to door
  • Travel to assigned Multnomah County geographic territory and working in all weather conditions
  • Achieve the daily contact and engagement goals as assigned
  • Maintain inventory of canvassing materials and ensure ample supply is requested and received in a timely manner
  • Accurately record and report canvassing activities, results, and information using assigned technology
• Phone Banking (virtual)
  • Support progressive candidates endorsed by Imagine Black including statewide candidates
  • Engaging strangers in conversation over the phone
  • Call or text voters by using EveryAction/VAN to turn out the vote
  • Report and document any issues you may have while canvassing.
  • Meet daily and weekly canvassing goals.

The duties mentioned above are not intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties required in this position. This job description is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. This role may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional duties as requested.

EQUIPMENT AND ACCESS

To work as an Election Organizer, you'll need access to:

• A laptop you can use for phone banking shifts
• Reliable internet. If you don't have reliable internet at home, you are welcome to join phone banks in person at the Center for Black Radical Imagination in Old Town, Portland
• A way to get to door knocking sites in Multnomah County. stipend will be provided

CANVASS STIPEND

Imagine Black provides headsets for phone banking. Internet costs are not reimbursed, so if you need internet access, you can call from our Old town office.

Organizers receive a transportation Lyft code stipend of $50 for each canvass in-person door-knocking shift to help cover the cost of getting to and from assigned turf. The stipend is paid via Lyft code, geographically tagged to the turf location.

PAYMENT

Organizers are paid by direct deposit within two business days of completing each shift.

• Thursday shifts are paid the following Monday
• Saturday and Sunday shifts are paid by the following Tuesday
• Tuesday shifts are paid the following Thursday

To receive payment, you must complete your direct deposit information on ramp.com. Once it is on file, payments go directly into your bank account.

Requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Commitment to Imagine Black's mission, with an appreciation for the role of electoral justice in social change and movement building
• You are interested in expanding your analysis and knowledge about the role that racial inequity plays in our society, and are committed to building and/or deepening your commitment to racial justice work
• Strong time management, problem solving, organizational skills and follow through on projects to meet goals
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage many audiences -- specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities
• Access to reliable transportation, a laptop, cell phone/phone, and wifi
• Ability to work 3:00-8:30 pm on Thursday, and 10 AM - 5 PM on Saturdays
• Proficiency in computer skills necessary for job duties
• Ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Ability and willingness to work outdoors in various weather conditions (heat, rain, cold)
• Strong public speaking abilities
• Excellent organizational skills
• Availability to work flexible shifts of 4 to 6 hours, involving prolonged periods of walking and standing
• Capability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Effective time management skills to achieve objectives within designated timelines

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bi- or multi-lingual proficiency (Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, and Somali-speaking candidates are encouraged to apply)
• Passion for civic engagement and strategies to enhance community empowerment
• Personal experience with issues affecting the Black community, particularly within Oregon
• Familiarity with MiniVAN applications or similar systems
• Additional proficiency in computer skills and adaptability to learn new systems as required

Racial equity is of utmost importance for our search. If you do not meet all of the required qualifications for this role but feel you can be a great addition to our team, please apply and let us know why we should meet you!

Imagine Black embraces diversity in a profound way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool - because we know the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

Benefits

The hourly for this temporary, seasonal contract role starts at $25 an hour, commensurate with experience and skills.

Imagine Black embraces diversity in a profound way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool - because we know the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.