Stronger leaders. Stronger democracy.
Build your future in election administration.
LEAP is a community of practice for election administration professionals. We connect you to the people and knowledge that help you grow as a leader, expand your network, and see a clearer path forward in election administration.
Applications open annually
12-month cohort program
It opened my eyes to new opportunities and career paths in the election field that I hadn't previously considered.
The Problem
The work is vital. The support shouldn't be optional.
Election administration runs on skilled people — yet the pathways to grow, connect, and lead are too few. Here's what's at stake.
For You
A rewarding field that can feel isolating
What's at stake
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Feeling stuck, with growth opportunities overlooked
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Burnout, and rethinking your future in the field
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The profession risks losing talent it can't replace
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Rewarding work that turns isolating over time
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Deep expertise, but few peers to share it with
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Little room to connect, learn, and grow
For The Field
Too few pathways to lead
What's at stake
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Departures drain institutional knowledge
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Thin leadership benches; capacity rebuilt from scratch
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Supported officials persist, lead, and build public trust
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Few paths to mentorship, advancement, and leadership
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Heavy investment in technical execution
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Leadership, network access, and mobility overlooked
What You'll Gain
This is what LEAP fellows gain.
Six ways LEAP turns your experience into visible, lasting professional growth.
A community that gets it.
01
Build your network
Connect with peers and leaders across the election administration ecosystem through cohort relationships, in-person and remote sessions, and shared learning, so you're not solving hard problems alone.
02
Strengthen your professional identity
Develop your bio, elevator pitch, and leadership story, so you can clearly articulate your expertise and value.
03
Expand your view of the field
Learn about organizations, roles, and pathways beyond your current jurisdiction, including opportunities across the broader election ecosystem.
04
Grow your leadership capacity
Participate in a community of practice designed to help you move from day-to-day operator to visible, strategic professional.
05
Gain confidence to advocate
Better communicate your ideas, your qualifications, and the resources your office needs.
06
Belong in a community that gets it
Build relationships with people who understand the realities of election work and want to see you succeed.
How It Works
Three steps to your next chapter.
From application to alumni network, here's what the LEAP journey looks like.
01
Apply
Tell us about your role, experience, and where you want to grow so we can see whether LEAP is the right fit for your next step.
02
Connect & Grow
Join remote sessions, in-person convenings, and peer learning experiences that help you build relationships, strengthen your professional identity, and expand your view of the field.
03
Lead Forward
Use what you gain through LEAP to pursue new opportunities, advocate more effectively, and grow into a more visible and confident leader.
Led by people who know the field.
The Guides
Led by people who know the field.
LEAP is led by Dr. Bridgett King and was built as a community of practice for election administration professionals. The pilot brought together a 19-person cohort across eight states and showed strong results in networking, professional identity development, and expanded awareness of opportunities in the field.
Dr. Bridgett King
LEAP Program Director
Dr. Sharrell McKennie
Program Co-Director
19
Pilot participants
8
States represented
12
Month program
Built on a Community of Practice model, with in-person and remote programming and engagement from leaders across federal agencies, nonprofits, consultancies, vendors, and professional associations throughout the election ecosystem.
From The Cohort
Hear from our fellows.
What our pilot cohort had to say about their LEAP experience.
Refining my bio and elevator pitch has better equipped me to clearly communicate why investments in our election systems are not optional but essential to maintaining public trust.
LEAP helped me think more intentionally about preparing for my future beyond my current position.