Maps, statutes and state capitols: My NCSL summer

Chani Morales-Contreras (Any/All)
Major: Political Science, '27
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Internship: National Conference of State Legislatures

Chani Morales-Contreras reflects on a summer researching redistricting law, election policy, and state government at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

It has been an absolute pleasure interning for the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Elections and Redistricting team this summer. The assignments and tasks I've received have truly expanded my knowledge of the frameworks by which state legislatures inform upcoming policy and address concerns through nonpartisan organizations. This newfound insight, paired with an amazing team, has made my time at NCSL truly memorable.

The Elections and Redistricting team at NCSL is incredibly kind and truly puts in the effort to make sure interns are engaged and gaining the most they can from their time at NCSL. It has been a real joy getting to know everyone in the department and witnessing the genuine passion and care they put into every project. In particular, my internship supervisor, Helen, has been incredibly insightful. Her understanding of state statutes, constitutions, and law on redistricting has been extremely helpful and has allowed me to gain deeper insight into this area of interest. Additionally, I have been able to work with Adam, who has offered an interesting perspective on how the topics of AI and election law overlap to inform states' approach to AI regulation.

This summer, I have been fortunate enough to join the organization ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Aside from providing insight into how organizations such as NCSL prepare for change ahead of upcoming elections, it has been fascinating to watch preparatory research and consideration of future redistricting changes as they pertain to the 2030 census.

Speaking with the NCSL team and my intern supervisor, I have been able to take on a mix of assignments that have both increased my skill set and helped me gain a clearer sense of the types of research I am most interested in. The work I've participated in has included statute comparison and research across all 50 states, caselaw research on state legislative authority, testimony research, checking the status of ongoing legal proceedings between states and the federal government, and research on states' public input redistricting requirements. Throughout the summer, it has been rewarding to see how this work has gone toward benefiting NCSL, NCSL web resources, and state legislators/legislative staff.

Aside from my assignments, NCSL has also given me the opportunity to learn more about Colorado state government. NCSL works all 50 state legislatures to provide policy research, resources, collaboration, etc. Fortunately, due to the office's location, the Elections and Redistricting team was able to visit the Colorado State Capitol, where I learned more about Colorado's legislative processes. As an intern, I found this experience to be truly eye-opening, and it expanded my understanding of NCSL as well as the scope of its work. Additionally, our visit was followed by a fun and educational trip to the Colorado History Museum.

I have had a memorable experience here at NCSL and strongly encourage any prospective students to give this internship a try. I have felt incredibly supported and look forward to coming into the office every day. The NCSL staff are wonderfully friendly and bring a diverse set of experiences from a variety of academic and career backgrounds. This internship has given me a lot of insight into my career goals while simultaneously allowing me to strengthen existing skills and develop new ones. While my time at NCSL is coming to a close, I look forward to seeing what's next for this amazing team.