A front-row seat to policymaking at the National Conference of State Legislatures

Elijah Meltzer (he/him)
Major: Political Science, '26
Hometown: New York, New York
Internship: National Conference of State Legislatures

Elijah Meltzer reflects on a summer with NCSL’s elections and redistricting team.

This summer with the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Elections and Redistricting team has been one of the most engaging and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. Every week has brought a new set of questions from legislators across the country, and my projects have often lined up with what’s been happening in the news.

I started the summer working on candidate address confidentiality in the wake of the tragic Minnesota shootings — digging into every state’s laws on how public officials’ addresses are protected. A few weeks later, the spotlight shifted to mid-decade redistricting as debates intensified in Texas, and I jumped into state constitutions, statutes, and court cases to figure out where it’s prohibited, allowed, or simply not addressed. Watching the news and my project list change in sync has been fascinating — it’s felt like having a front-row seat to the policymaking process.

In between those headline-driven projects, I’ve researched campaign finance policy, created interactive maps for NCSL’s website, and written a voter information confidentiality resource designed to help legislators, staff, and voters understand the often-overlooked issue. Some of the most satisfying moments have been responding to direct questions from legislators’ offices, knowing that the work I’m doing could help shape an actual policy discussion. While our team’s work serves all 50 states, I’ve also been able to answer several requests from western states — a good reminder of how much NCSL’s work supports the region in practical, real-time ways.

One standout moment was visiting the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne with the Elections team. Touring the historic building, talking with legislators and staff, and hearing about their day-to-day work made the connection between our research and the legislative process even more tangible.

The relationships I’ve built have been just as meaningful as the projects themselves. I’ve gotten to know and collaborate with the entire Elections and Redistricting team, each of whom brings incredible expertise. I’ve worked closely under Luke, whose deep experience in election policy has been invaluable, and with Helen on redistricting research, where I learned not just from the statutes and case law but also from her thoughtful feedback.

I’m incredibly grateful for this summer — for the chance to work on projects that are timely, relevant, and impactful; to learn from such knowledgeable colleagues; and to contribute to nonpartisan research that supports legislatures nationwide. And outside the office, I’ve loved exploring Denver, making new friends, and enjoying everything the city has to offer in the summer. I’m heading into the fall with sharper skills, a deeper understanding of election administration, and even more excitement about working in this field in the future.