Who Can Apply

The  Programme welcomes applications from individuals in four main categories:

• Junior Fellows: Master’s or PhD students or candidates conducting research on electoral integrity.

• Fellows: Academics at the level of Postdoctoral Fellow, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, or equivalent.

• Senior Fellows: Academics at the level of Associate or Full Professor, Senior or Principal Lecturer, Reader, or equivalent.

• Practitioner Fellows: Professionals in related fields (government, NGOs, civil society, or industry) at any career stage.

This inclusive structure encourages diverse perspectives — from emerging scholars to senior experts and practitioners with hands-on experience in electoral processes.

Key Components of the Fellowship Programme

All fellows are expected to:

• Conduct a research project on a topic related to electoral integrity.

• Produce a working paper and deliver a conference presentation at the annual EIP workshop.

• Participate in monthly online seminars and feedback sessions.

• Collaborate with peers and mentors to strengthen academic and practical insights.

The programme encourages interdisciplinary approaches that bridge political science, law, sociology, and technology — fostering a holistic understanding of democracy and elections.

Named Fellowships Available for 2026

In addition to the general  Programme, several named programme provide extra financial and institutional support:

• Carter Center Democracy Fellowships – Two fellowships available, valued at USD 1,000 each. Open to scholars from any country and field related to electoral integrity, in collaboration with The Carter Center.

• Consortium on Electoral Democracy (C-Dem) Fellowship – One fellowship available, valued at CAD 1,000.Open to Canadian students researching electoral integrity, offered in partnership with C-Dem.

• Carter Center-Emory University Democracy and Electoral Integrity Completion Fellow – Selected through a separate process (not open this cycle).