Ensuring Fair Elections and Voter Participation: What Lawyers Can Do

There are growing concerns as to whether the 2026 election will be truly fair. Challenges to election administration are coming from the highest levels of the federal government, and there are looming threats from private actors and even foreign governments. Election officials are facing harassment and intimidation, including potential criminal penalties, for simply doing their job. Unproven charges of widespread voter fraud continue to escalate. This tumult may discourage those eligible from voting, a sought-for objective by many who are ramping up these pressures.

Volunteers will clearly be needed to participate in, and monitor, these elections, and novel approaches may be needed to ensure fairness and participation. Lawyers and law students, given their experience and training, are particularly well suited to fulfill those roles.

The New York City Bar Association has updated its Election Protection Opportunities for Lawyers page, enabling members of the bar and law students to learn where they can most effectively assist to enable free and fair elections. No prior election law experience is needed for these opportunities, which are found in New York City and throughout the country, including in those states where poll workers are being particularly challenged. Help is needed before, during and after the midterm elections.

In this video, election law experts describe the nature of the threats to this year’s elections, discuss opportunities available to help protect the vote, and detail what will be involved in those activities.

Welcome & Closing Remarks:
Susan Kohlmann, Chair, New York City Bar Task Force on the Rule of Law

Introduction:
Matthew Diller, President, New York City Bar Association

Moderator:
Jerry Goldfeder, Director, Voting Rights and Democracy Project, Fordham Law School; Chair, ABA Committee on Election Law

Speakers:
Tamar Hagler, Legal Program Director, The Center for Election Innovation & Research 
Sean Morales-Doyle, Senior Director, Brennan Center Voting and Elections Program
Jeffrey M. Wice, Director, New York Elections, Census and Redistricting Institute, New York Law School; Chair, New York City Bar Committee on Election Law

Sponsoring Committee:
Task Force on the Rule of Law, Susan J. Kohlmann, Chair

Cosponsoring Committee:
Election Law Committee, Jeffrey M. Wice, Chair

Cosponsoring Bar Association:
Westchester County Bar Association