Midterms: Are Free Elections at Risk?
Bonnie and Richard Reiss Lecture on Constitutional History and Law
Event Details:
On November 3, all 435 districts in the United States House of Representatives, as well as over 30 seats in the Senate, will be up for grabs. With a current Republican majority in both the House and Senate, as well as a Republican president, the 2026 midterm elections could completely turn the tide of American politics. However, with a recent executive order limiting mail-in voting, congressional roadblocks to voter registration, Justice Department demands for voter rolls, and more, the question becomes: How fair and free will this election cycle—or those to come—really be? A panel of legal experts sits down to discuss the state of elections in the country today and what it means for our present and future.
Melissa Murray is the Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law Faculty and the director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center at New York University School of Law. Her books include The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader.
Andrew Weissmann is professor of practice at NYU School of Law and the author of Liar’s Kingdom: How to Stop Trump’s Deceit and Save America, among other books.
Bob Bauer (moderator) is a professor of practice and distinguished scholar-in-residence at NYU School of Law and his most recent book is The Unraveling: Reflections on Politics without Ethics and Democracy in Crisis.
Location:
The Robert H. Smith Auditorium at The New York Historical, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
Livestreaming:
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Melissa Murray by Juliana Thomas Photography; Andrew Weissmann by Zachary Krahmer
