The Election Law Center at Florida State University College of Law will host its two-day Spring 2026 Conference in Washington, D.C., on April 16-17, 2026, convening the nation's leading election law scholars, policymakers, litigators and election officials to examine the most pressing issues shaping elections in the United States.
"Hosting this conference in Washington, D.C., places our students and faculty at the center of the national conversation on election law," said Erin O'Hara O'Connor, dean of the College of Law. "It provides a unique opportunity for our students to engage directly with the policymakers, regulators and thought leaders who are actively shaping election law and policy. Experiences like this are central to our mission of preparing graduates with a well-rounded, practical understanding of the legal systems that underpin our democracy."
Established to advance research, education and public dialogue on election law, the Election Law Center at Florida State University College of Law serves as a hub for rigorous, nonpartisan analysis of the legal frameworks that govern elections. Through conferences, scholarship and student engagement, the Center plays a leading role in shaping conversations around election administration, voting rights and democratic governance.
The Center is led by Michael T. Morley, faculty director of the Election Law Center and Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law. Professor Morley is a nationally recognized scholar in election law with research focused on election emergencies, the constitutional right to vote, the Electoral Count Act, and the equitable powers of the federal courts. His scholarship has been widely cited by courts and commentators. Under his leadership, the Center continues to expand its role as a leading forum for rigorous, nonpartisan engagement with the most pressing issues in election law.
Confirmed speakers include a member of Congress currently serving on the House Committee on Administration's Election Subcommittee; two commissioners (former and current) of the Federal Election Commission; a sitting commissioner of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission; and senior leadership from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) and the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP). The conference will also feature more than twenty of the nation's leading scholars in law and political science.
Panel discussions will address key topics, including voting rights, election administration, election litigation, campaign finance and institutional structures in a post-Callais landscape, among other critical issues.
Visit the Spring 2026 conference website
