Consultant – Political​/Campaign Finance Expert – Election Standards

The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

The Carter Center is seeking a highly qualified independent contractor to serve as a Political/Campaign Finance Expert for a domestic election observation mission to Michigan for the 2026 midterm elections, to be held on November 3, 2026. The expert will engage with stakeholders, conduct analysis, and report on political and campaign finance issues based on Michigan and federal law and international standards for democratic elections.

The duration and scope of the mission is contingent on the availability of funds and electoral developments. The expert is expected to deploy for approximately three weeks around election day, with the possibility of remote pre- and post-election analysis.

In coordination with the Mission Director and Project Manager:

• Review and assess Michigan’s political and campaign finance laws and regulations, including relevant federal law, as they apply to the 2026 midterm elections. Assess implementation of the legal framework and the complaints and enforcement process for campaign finance violations. Ground assessment of legal framework and implementation against international standards and best practices, including article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and General Comment 25, and the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), in particular article 7(3) and the Conference of States Parties resolution on preventing and combating corruption through enhancing transparency in the funding of political parties and election campaigns.
• Engage with state and local election officials, the Michigan Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State’s office, political parties and candidates, civil society, domestic and international election observer groups, the private sector, media representatives, and other academics and experts familiar with campaign finance.
• Contribute to the continued development of a methodology for observation of campaign finance as requested by Carter Center project staff, under the guidance of the Mission Director and Project Manager.
• Analyze the role of outside spending in Michigan’s 2026 legislative and statewide races, including contributions to and expenditures by super PACs and legislative caucus PACs, and assess how current contribution limits and reporting schedules affect the timeliness and completeness of public disclosure.
• Assess the use of party accounts and other vehicles exempt from standard disclosure requirements, and evaluate their effect on transparency in state-level campaign finance reporting.
• Review allegations and enforcement actions concerning foreign-sourced funding in Michigan ballot campaigns and election-related spending, including the implementation and effectiveness of recent legislative measures addressing foreign funding restrictions.
• Examine how existing disclosure rules apply to digital and streaming political advertising, including the distinction between express advocacy and issue advocacy, and identify gaps in coverage as political spending shifts toward digital platforms.
• Track and analyze the proposed Michigan Utility and Government Contractor Campaign Finance Regulations Initiative, including its potential effects on contribution restrictions for regulated utilities and government contractors and on donor disclosure requirements for issue advertising, presenting the range of stakeholder positions in a balanced and non-partisan manner.
• Prepare a written assessment of the legal framework governing political and campaign finance in Michigan, identifying strengths,…