2026 Elections: Local Government Roles and Responsibilities Webinar
In partnership with the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal and election experts in a discussion regarding the regulatory and administrative responsibilities local elected and executive leaders, and election administrators should understand for the upcoming election cycle. This webinar will provide an overview of the new executive orders, and federal policies impacting the upcoming 2026 elections, as well as the legal parameters and the legislative proposals local governments should understand that may impact their roles and responsibilities for election administration.
Date: May 11, 2026 | Time: 1-2PM EST
Moderated by Amanda Karras, Executive Director/General Counsel, International Municipal Lawyers Association
Speakers include:
- Seth Bluestein, City (and County) Commissioner, Philadelphia, PA
- Michael Haas, City Attorney, Madison, WI
- Leslie Reynolds, Executive Director, National Association of Secretaries of State
The Local Government Legal Center (LGLC) is a coalition of national local government organizations formed in 2023 by National Association of Counties (NACo), National League of Cities (NLC) and International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) as the Founding Members along with Associate Members Government Finance Offices Association (GFOA) and International City/County Management Association (ICMA), to provide education to local governments regarding the Supreme Court and its impact on local governments and local officials and to advocate for local government positions at the Supreme Court in appropriate cases.
Panelists Bios
Amanda Karras is the Executive Director / General Counsel of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. In this capacity, Ms. Karras oversees IMLA’s governance and staff. Ms. Karras also oversees IMLA’s legal advocacy efforts with the United States Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and state appellate courts by reviewing and evaluating requests for IMLA’s amicus assistance, advising the legal advocacy committee regarding potential amicus cases and their significance to local government, coordinating case strategies with IMLA’s amicus authors, and drafting and revising amicus briefs. Ms. Karras has authored numerous amicus briefs including at the Supreme Court merits and petition stage as well as in federal circuit courts. Additionally, Ms. Karras leads a number of working groups for IMLA on emerging issues. Ms. Karras has also co-taught a course on local government law at George Washington University Law School. Prior to joining IMLA, Ms. Karras worked in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts, focusing on employment law and litigation, first with Ropes & Gray, LLP and later with Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP. Ms. Karras received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colby College and earned her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School, graduating magna cum laude. Ms. Karras served as an Articles Editor for the Suffolk University Law School Law Review. Ms. Karras is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, and the United States Supreme Court.
Seth Bluestein has served as City Commissioner – one of three members of the Board of Elections in charge of election operations and voter registration for the City of Philadelphia – since February 2022. Prior to serving as Commissioner, Seth was Chief Deputy Commissioner for former City Commissioner Al Schmidt. Seth began working in the Office of the City Commissioners in 2012 as a Deputy Commissioner before being promoted to Chief Deputy Commissioner in 2017. From 2018 through 2021, Seth also served as the department’s Chief Integrity Officer. Seth has spent more than a decade serving Philadelphia voters, with a focus on improving the voter experience and ensuring our elections remain fair, secure, and accessible. He has overseen election integrity investigations and quality control audits for the department. An advocate for transparency, Seth has worked to transform the department’s website, communications, and open data initiatives. A lifelong Philadelphian, Seth earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.
Michael Haas has served as Madison City Attorney since May 2020. He previously worked in various legal and management positions at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board and the Wisconsin Elections Commission, including as the first Administrator of the Elections Commission. Mike started his legal career with the law firm of Roethe Krohn Pope, LLP, where his practice focused on municipal law as well as general practice matters. Mike received his undergraduate degree in Government from Harvard University and his J.D from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Mike also serves on the State Bar’s Ethics Committee and is a professionally-trained Zamboni driver and Bruce Springsteen fanatic/scholar.
Leslie Reynolds has served as Executive Director of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) since 2000. As Executive Director, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the association including: managing NASS staff, coordinating member communications, maintaining stakeholder relationships, as well as monitoring federal legislation on key member initiatives particularly in the areas of election administration, cybersecurity and business services issues. She brings to NASS particular expertise in congressional/intergovernmental relations and legislative policymaking.
Previously, Leslie was the Vice President of Membership and Administration for the Outdoor Advertising Association of America. She is a graduate of Purdue University.