Prerana Kodakandla

Prerana Kodakandla is a Summer Legislative Intern at Issue One, where she supports the organization’s election protection and legislative affairs efforts. Working with the Election Protection team, she is excited to contribute to initiatives that strengthen democratic institutions, support election administration, and advance bipartisan reforms that crucially promote public trust in government.

Prerana is originally from Bentonville, Arkansas and a student at Duke University studying Public Policy and Political Science with a concentration in International Relations, as well as pursuing a certificate in Human Rights. She has a specific interest in democratic institutions, governance, and foreign policy/national security. Her experience spans policy research, civic engagement, legal service, and political campaigns. Most recently, she helped launch an inaugural Gen Z AI Advisory Council focused on the intersection of integrating emerging technology and workforce development for Heartland Forward, a think-and-do tank working as a resource for states and communities to advance economic success. She has also conducted legislative research, supported voter outreach efforts, and worked alongside attorneys to expand access to legal resources in underserved communities.

At Duke, Prerana participates in Moot Court and the Program in American Grand Strategy, where she explores constitutional law, foreign policy, and national security through simulated Supreme Court-style competitions and engagement with policy practitioners. She was also selected as one of two Arkansas delegates to the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program, where engaged with senior leaders across all three branches of government and received a national scholarship.

This summer, Prerana is excited to support Issue One’s mission to strengthen American democracy while deepening her understanding of election protection, legislative reform, and public policy advocacy. Outside of school and work, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops and restaurants, cheering on her favorite sports teams, traveling, watching theater, and is a long-time Indian classical and Bollywood dancer.