UA News

Project Vote Smart, which opened a branch office at the UA in 2006, is seeking University students for internship positions this semester.

It's long been said that an informed citizenry is the foundation for a functionioning democracy, and it is through the exchange of reliable and factual information that such a society is formed.

That is the standing philosophy behind Project Vote Smart, a national nonprofit political research organization that is currently seeking University of Arizona students to serve as interns for its UA office.

It is not too late for University students to sign up to work – for credit – with the organization, which collects information for the general public about elected officials and candidates running for all levels of public office.

Project Vote Smart, an independent nonpartisan organization founded in Tucson, opened a branch research center at the UA in 2006 and has since relied on student interns studying in a range of disciplines.

The organization involves UA students and faculty in the collection of biographical and contact information, voting records, speeches, public statements, issue positions, campaign finances and ratings that special interest and advocacy groups issue about candidates and officials.

"It is very comprehensive," said Tallie Spiller, the organization's internship coordinator.

Spiller said the organization tracks information on more than 40,000 candidates and elected officials. The organization's "Voter Self Defense System" is a free Web-based resource that contains such information.

"It's an incredibly broad and deep organization in the research that we do," Spiller said. "The importance of it (Project Vote Smart) is that so much (mainstream) media that is being produced is filtered and biased."

That goes for city and county officials, state legislators, members of Congress, presidential candidates and others, said Bonnie Wolf, who directs the Tucson office at the UA.

Wolf said this is "an incredible undertaking, and it would not be possible without the enthusiasm and passion of our student interns."

Students have until Feb. 4 to apply to work with the organization, which has its headquarters in Montana. At the UA, Project Vote Smart offers semester-long internships with the option of serving for an additional semester.

Students can receive up to 12 credit hours for their work with the organization, which requires 45 hours per credit. Most students enroll for three credits each semester. Students also have the option to volunteer with the organization. Also, the office was approved last year to offer paid internships to work study-eligible students.

Those involved browse hundreds of Web sites, go through material collected by the Library of Congress, read transcripts, examine legislation and gather information from a variety of other sources. Such information must be translated into easy-to-read text that is clear, accurate and thorough.

The nonprofit's focus is in placing reliable, objective, factual and free information about individuals making the nation's public policy decisions in the hands of voters.

"This is a unique opportunity for University of Arizona students to participate in a national internship," Spiller said.

"The most important thing for us is that they are passionate about what they are doing," she said. "We're bringing this kind of information to the American people so that they may make informed decisions."