Governor of Utah
Join us for a keynote address from Utah Governor Spencer Cox on the importance of free speech, open dialogue, and a stronger civil society.
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Judges, legislators, deans and election officials who have argued these questions in federal court, ruled on them from the bench, and administered them in Idaho and across the country.
Idaho Secretary of State
Secretary McGrane convenes the summit and opens the morning. He came to the office after serving as Ada County Clerk, and brings the view from the desk where speech, elections and public trust meet in practice.
Former Commissioner, Federal Election Commission
Dickerson joined the FEC in December 2020, serving as vice chair in 2021 and chairman in 2022. Before that he was legal director of the Institute for Free Speech, running a nationwide First Amendment litigation practice.
Senior Legal Fellow, The Heritage Foundation
Palmer served on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from 2019 to 2026 and chaired it twice. He was earlier Virginia's chief election official and Florida's director of elections, and a trial attorney in the Justice Department's voting section.
SNF Agora Institute, Johns Hopkins University
A Professor of Practice at the SNF Agora Institute, where his work focuses on institutional trust, democratic resilience, and civic participation. He leads the Civic Right, an initiative researching and building an authentically conservative, pro-democracy ecosystem in the United States.
“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.”
Benjamin Franklin
Tuesday, October 13, 2026. All sessions at the Idaho State Capitol; the keynote luncheon is off site.
Overview of the Summit and the importance of free speech, civic debate, and public participation.
Session I
Privacy, donor disclosure, and freedom of association.
Session II
Political speech, election administration, and public trust.
Session III
Civil discourse, campus speech, and the culture of debate.
Panel discussion
A moderated discussion on protecting speech, encouraging civic participation, and strengthening public trust.
Register and attend the morning and afternoon sessions and lunch is included. You must attend the sessions to receive the included lunch at no cost.
RegisterFor guests coming just for the midday meal and Gov. Cox's keynote address. Does not include the sessions, and luncheon seating at this rate is limited.
RegisterLunch is included for those attending the full day. It is not served as a drop-in on its own — if the luncheon is all you can make, that is the $50 registration.
All sessions are held at the Capitol. The keynote luncheon is held off site.
Metered street parking surrounds the Capitol, and the Capitol Terrace garage at 8th and Jefferson is a two-minute walk.