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We invite you to join us for a lecture by Brian G. Svoboda on "America Votes 2026: What Went Well? What Went Wrong?"What makes an electoral process fair and democratic? How can elections be protected from political interference, financial corruption, and foreign influence? What challenges did the United States face during the 2026 midterm elections, and how effectively did its electoral system respond?
During the lecture, we will explore the integrity of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, focusing on several key principles of a fair and democratic electoral process. These include freedom from force, threats, and intimidation; clear, stable, and widely accepted electoral rules; effective election administration; protection against undue interference by government officials; and safeguards against financial corruption and foreign influence.
Drawing on his extensive experience in election law, campaign finance, and political ethics, Brian G. Svoboda will examine how well these principles were upheld during the elections, highlighting both the successes and shortcomings of the American electoral system.
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The lecture will provide an opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing American democracy and the importance of maintaining transparent, accountable, and trustworthy electoral institutions. Particular attention will be given to the legal and institutional mechanisms designed to safeguard electoral integrity and ensure public confidence in democratic processes.
The meeting will conclude with a Q&A session, during which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their thoughts, and engage directly with the speaker.
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About the Guest:
Brian G. Svoboda is an authority on the laws regulating political activity. A partner at Perkins Coie LLP, he advises major companies, trade associations, public figures, political consultants, and nonprofit organizations on all aspects of ethics and campaign finance laws. He has successfully represented several members of Congress in investigations conducted by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics, the Office of Congressional Ethics, and the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. He frequently practices before the Federal Election Commission, where he has secured legal protection for high-stakes, high-visibility activities through the advisory opinion process. He has also successfully defended numerous clients, including multiple presidential campaigns, in campaign finance investigations and audits, appeared before agencies and courts across the United States, and worked on multiple election recounts.
Brian G. Svoboda is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Nebraska. He has addressed representatives of the Council of Europe's Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) during their evaluation of transparency in the U.S. campaign finance system. He has taught a course on the Hatch Act for the District of Columbia Bar and contributed to the American Bar Association's "Lobbying Manual". He has participated in programs and academic events organized by institutions including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL), the American Association of Political Consultants, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, George Mason University School of Law, William & Mary School of Law, and American University Washington College of Law.
Appointed Director of the Law and Public Policy Program in October 2021, he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the Columbus School of Law. He designed and taught the Law School's Nonprofit Advocacy Clinic, where students researched lobbying and gift law issues and provided training to a major public charity.
More information: https://www.law.edu/connect-contact/faculty-directory/brian-g-svoboda
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📅 Date: November 12, 2026 (Thursday)
🕘 Time: 9:45–11:15
📍 Where?: Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University, 4 Reymonta Street, Room 037
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The event is organized by the Students' Association for American Studies at Jagiellonian University.
The event can be credited as part of the OSA program.
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Event venue
Reymonta 4, 30-059 Kraków, Poland, ulica Władysława S. Reymonta 4, 30-059 Kraków, Polska, Krakow, Poland
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