The Electoral Integrity Project (EIP) is accepting applications for its 2027 Fellowship Programme, providing academics and practitioners with an opportunity to undertake research related to electoral integrity with support from the EIP community, fellow researchers and members of its International Advisory Board.
The programme welcomes applicants at different career stages, including master’s and doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, university academics, senior academics and practitioners working in fields connected to electoral integrity.
Applications for the 2027 Fellowship Programme close on 30 October 2026.
About the Electoral Integrity Project Fellowship
The EIP Fellowship Programme is designed to support research and professional engagement around electoral integrity. Fellows undertake an academic research project on a topic related to electoral integrity and develop their findings into a working paper and conference presentation.
Participants also take part in monthly seminars where fellows present their research, receive feedback and engage in discussions with other researchers and practitioners.
The programme therefore combines independent research with opportunities for academic exchange, professional networking and feedback from experienced members of the electoral integrity community.
Fellowship Categories
The programme offers several fellowship categories based on applicants’ academic or professional career stages.
Junior Fellows are academics at master’s or doctoral student or candidate level.
Fellows are academics at the postdoctoral, Assistant Professor, Lecturer or equivalent level.
Senior Fellows are academics at Associate Professor, Full Professor, Senior or Principal Lecturer, Reader or equivalent level.
Practitioner Fellows are professionals working in areas related to electoral integrity. Eligible practitioners may come from government, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations or industry and can be at any stage of their careers.
Carter Center Democracy Fellowships
In addition to the general fellowships, the 2027 programme includes two Carter Center Democracy Fellowships.
Each fellowship provides US$1,000 and is open to students and scholars from any country working on any area of electoral integrity research.
The fellowships are offered in collaboration with The Carter Center, providing an additional opportunity for researchers interested in democracy, elections and electoral integrity.
Electoral Management Resiliency Fellowships
The programme also offers two Electoral Management Resiliency Fellowships, each valued at CAD$1,000.
These fellowships are intended for junior scholars or practitioners conducting research related to strengthening the resilience of electoral management.
Relevant projects may examine areas such as:
- Legal and regulatory frameworks
- Leadership capacity
- Financial capacity
- Emerging technologies
- Public opinion and attitudes concerning electoral management resilience
The fellowships are funded in part by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
Fellowship Activities and Benefits
Selected fellows will be expected to conduct an original research project connected to electoral integrity. The programme provides a structured environment for developing the research and communicating findings to an academic and professional audience.
Key fellowship components include:
- Conducting an electoral integrity research project
- Producing a working paper
- Preparing a presentation for the annual workshop
- Participating in monthly research seminars
- Receiving feedback from other fellows and experienced researchers
- Building connections within the electoral integrity research community
- Accessing professional and academic discussions through EIP activities
Junior Fellows may also have the option of being matched with a senior mentor from the EIP International Advisory Board or established practitioner partners.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship programme is relevant to applicants working across a broad range of disciplines and professional fields connected to elections and electoral integrity.
Potential applicants may include researchers studying electoral systems, democracy, political institutions, election administration, political communication, misinformation, voting behaviour, election technology, campaign finance, democratic governance and related subjects.
Practitioners working in government, civil society, NGOs or industry may also apply where their professional work relates to electoral integrity.
The programme’s different fellowship categories mean applicants should identify the category that corresponds to their current academic or professional career stage.
How to Strengthen the Application
Applicants should develop a focused research idea that clearly connects with electoral integrity and demonstrates a meaningful research question.
The proposed project should be realistic and sufficiently developed to support a working paper and conference presentation. Applicants should also explain how their academic or professional background prepares them to undertake the proposed research.
Candidates applying for named fellowships should ensure that their research proposal directly corresponds with the relevant fellowship’s stated focus. For the Electoral Management Resiliency Fellowship, for example, applicants should demonstrate how their project relates to resilience in electoral management.
Junior researchers should also consider how the available mentoring opportunity could contribute to their research development.
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the official Electoral Integrity Project Fellowship Programme 2027 application form before the deadline.
Candidates should review the fellowship categories and determine the appropriate category before submitting their application. Applicants interested in the Carter Center Democracy Fellowship or Electoral Management Resiliency Fellowship should also ensure that their proposed research meets the relevant fellowship criteria.
The application form is available through the official EIP website.
Application Deadline and Official Source
Applications for the Electoral Integrity Project Fellowship Programme 2027 must be submitted by 30 October 2026.
The programme provides opportunities for researchers and practitioners at different career stages to undertake electoral integrity research while participating in seminars, workshops, mentoring and professional exchanges.
Applicants should verify the latest application requirements, fellowship conditions and selection information directly from the official Electoral Integrity Project before applying.
