Welcome to LWVAA's Weekly VOTER
The Weekly VOTER is here to make sure everyone stays in the know about opportunities to empower voters and defend democracy in our community. Like what you see? Please share with your friends!
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- 👀 Watch: Social Media Director Laura Ts'ao talked about our Friends & Family Spring Festival on KXAN's Studio 512.
- Key dates are coming up fast, and what’s on your ballot depends on where you live.
🤧 Watch and share Spring Allergies & Texas has Two Elections
| Highlighted Community Events
May 1-2: 🎶 KUT Festival at UT Austin - Celebrate the Austin community with live music, insightful speakers, and more.
May 1: May Day March to the Capitol - Join the Austin Central Labor Council for a rally at Austin City Hall, with speakers from local labor leaders and community organizers, followed by a Texas-sized march up Congress Avenue to the Capitol Grounds.
May 2:
🎨 Activists of Austin Art Show - Opening night of an art show highlighting the incredible range of community care that Austinites demonstrate through their organizing work, with DJ, snacks, and conversations with artists and activists. The show features portraits of more than 25 incredible local activists, organizers, and nonprofit founders. You might even recognize a couple of LWVAA‘s own!
🌎 Earth Day Austin 2026 - A free, family-friendly festival offering hands-on activities, nature experiences, art, games, music, storytelling, food, and conversations about our shared future. | 🗳️ First Vote!
First Vote! is a free, nonpartisan, high school voter education and registration program which helps young voters become energized and ready to make their voices heard! To learn more or volunteer, contact firstvote@lwvaustin.org. |
Volunteering with the League isn't just about registering voters. It's about building partnerships with our community. Join LWVAA in celebrating KidsfestATX, a Univision #VotaConmigo (“vote with me”) initiative.
Claudia Torres-Yanez, Director of Voter Registration & Turnout, and LWV volunteers registered seven voters in three hours at KidsFestATX, a family-centered community celebration co-hosted by Child Inc Head Start and Austin Voices for Education and Youth. KidsFestATX provide a welcoming space for families to connect with vital resources while celebrating children, learning, and community. Volunteers got a visit from Austin City Councilman Jose “Chito” Vela, and Claudia danced with PBS's own Daniel Tiger.
| Speak up on issues that matter!
Local Actions
💰 Austin City Budget: Each year, the City prepares a budget that balances community priorities, operational needs, legal mandates, and available revenue. Share your thoughts with city leaders here.
💰 Austin Housing Rental Fee Transparency: Landlords with five or more rental units will be required to give applicants a complete list of fees when they apply for a unit. Read the draft ordinance and provide feedback here.
🎒 🚌 Austin ISD: Budget cuts are coming. Learn about the AISD FY2026-27 Preliminary Planning Budget here and provide feedback in person from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at Austin High School.
Find more opportunities to provide feedback on issues important to your community at the link below.
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Take Two LWV Actions
- ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 We need you to stand with the League to demand that Congress reject any additional funding for ICE and CBP. Tell Congress: No More ICE and CBP Funding.
- 🗳️ The SAVE Act would create one more barrier to the voting process, as many eligible voters do not have easy access to the necessary documents.Tell Congress to oppose the SAVE Act suite of bills.
LWV News
Keep up with National LWV Actions!
Go to LWV.org to empower voters and defend democracy nationally.
|  | Highlighted League & community events
May 6:
Braver Angels of Central Texas - Noise Versus News: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Social Media has become a dominant force in our nation's culture. The session will focus on Social Media primarily through the largest and most classic example, Facebook.
LWV of Roselle Bloomingdale, IL - Countering Citizens United This timely discussion via ZOOM will examine new strategies that the state of Illinois developed in response to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, including the “corporate power reset” approach and emerging reform efforts nationwide.
Integral Health -The State of Mental Health in Central Texas Join Integral Care for a community conversation during May Mental Health Month. Integral Care’s Community Forum will spotlight the State of Mental Health in Central Texas, sharing data‑driven insights on local needs, access to care, and how community partners are working together to strengthen our behavioral health system.
May 7: Transgender Education Network of Texas - Screening of HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY, a documentary that follows Chase Strangio, ACLU attorney and the first out trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, as he fights a high-stakes legal battle to overturn Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth (United States v. Skrmetti). The film will be followed by a talkback panel featuring community leaders who are shaping the trans policy landscape in Texas.
May 16: LWVAA 2026 Annual Meeting Celebrate our work over the past year, and chart our course for the year ahead (members: log in to register)
Upcoming Election
🗳️ Texas Primary Runoff Election:
Monday, April 27 - Last day to register to vote
Friday, May 15 - Application for a ballot by mail must be received by County
Monday, May 18 - Friday, May 22 - Early voting
Tuesday, May 26 - Last day ballot by mail must be received by County
Tuesday, May 26 - Election Day
| If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
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|  | It is official. Gus the cat and Franklin the dog are running for pet mayor in the Austin Pet Election coming this summer! |
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| The League shall not support or oppose any political party or candidates. It may take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest after significant study and consensus is reached. | |