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!
| Empowering Voters.
Defending Democracy. | First, get inspired
👀 Watch Valerie DeBill, Director of Voter Registration & Turnout, talk to KXAN News about barriers to Texas voter participation, voter registration, VOTE411.org, and the Voters Guide.
💡 Check out gatewaytovote.org, a new tool to find voter registration events happening across Texas.
Then, choose how you will support democracy this election season
- Serve as a poll worker, a student election clerk, a ballot-by-mail clerk, or a call center representative -- there's a role for you! Help your community vote with confidence this election season. For Travis County, sign up here.
- Make a donation to the League of Women Voters' nonpartisan Voters Guide, voter education, and registration efforts.
- Find a volunteer opportunity below.
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Paws to the Polls
  Listen or read: "Want to give voting machines a test drive before midterms? Cast a ballot for Travis County pet mayor." by Valeria Cruz Butrón for KUT News.
Paws to the Polls is coming to Southeast Austin this Thursday, August 13, from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Central Health Southeast, 2901 Montopolis Drive, 78741. Cast your vote for Franklin or Gus, practice using a real voting machine before the Midterms, and enjoy a fun, hands-on community event! Free swag, candidate debates, and your chance to help choose Austin’s next Pet Mayor!
| The Summer Mixer
😎 League members escaped the Texas heat at the LWVAA Summer Mixer at the Brewtorium on July 31. We had a great time meeting and chatting with other like-minded folks who believe in our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy.
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League & community events this week
August 10:
📰 LWV of Larimer City, CO: Is Media Ruining America? (Part 5) - Register
💰 City of Austin Budget Town Hall, District 3 - RSVP
August 11:
🏳️🌈 Austin Equity and Inclusion: Know Your Rights (Education) - RSVP
August 13:
🐾 Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election (Southeast Austin) - RSVP
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LWVAA maintains an online event calendar for meetings, trainings, voter outreach, and registration opportunities.
| Speakers Bureau
🗳️ Watch our presentation "Why Vote in the Midterm Election?" to learn a simple technique to help potential voters realize how elected officials impact their everyday lives. This was presented to the Southwestern University Black Alumni Association by volunteers from the LWVAA Speakers Bureau.
The Speakers Bureau team has been hard at work over the spring and summer, creating presentations and speaking to civic organizations, alumni groups, and more. Is your organization looking for a speaker this fall? Look no further! Fill out this form and a Speakers Bureau representative will be in touch.
We're always looking for volunteers -- not just to speak, but to train speakers, do research, fact check, and create new presentations. To learn more about how you can help LWVAA provide voter education and encourage participation in our democracy, email Speakers Bureau Coordinator Barbara Martin. | Volunteer at the next Paws to the Polls!
🐾 Our next Paws to the Polls GOTV campaign event is this Thursday, August 13, and we need you! Volunteer opportunities abound: setting up, helping folks find their way around, popping corn, registering voters, helping with kids' activities, and more.
What? Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election
When? Thursday, August 13, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Where? Central Health & Wellness Southeast, 2901 Montopolis Drive
Set-up starts at 8:00 am and clean-up starts at 12:00 noon. We hope to see you there!
Help us spread the word about Paws to the Polls
🐾🪧 Can't volunteer on August 13? Put up a yard sign or two in your neighborhood or ask local businesses to post flyers. LWVAA has everything you need! Swing by our office any time between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, and we'll fix you up! Find more information here.
Want to help but can't make it during drop-in hours? Contact Joyce Jackson to arrange a pick-up time.
|  | LWV volunteer registers voters at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. |
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🗳️ Get ready! Get set! Register voters!
August 10
First Vote Kit Building & More! - RSVP
First Vote! Presenter Training - RSVP
August 14
August 15
August 17
First Vote Kit Building & More! - RSVP
First Vote! Planning & Data Entry - RSVP
August 21
August 28
🗓️ Find more voter registration opportunities on our calendar. Want to help? Contact the LWVAA Voters Service team.
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Democracy in the news
🗳️ "Last year, state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2753, which shifts Texas’ early voting window closer to election day, cutting out a three-day gap between the two voting periods and adding more Saturday and Sunday voting. While the changes did not take effect immediately and were designed to help boost voter turnout, local election administrators said the law will also significantly raise costs for municipalities and delay the release of election results." Read County officials say Texas law allowing more weekend voting will delay election results, spike costs - Hannah Norton for Community Impact
Why does this article matter? Election administrators from both large and small counties across Texas agree that this is one of the most significant changes in voting procedures that Texas has implemented in years.
Why voter awareness matters: staying up to date on changes to the election process helps voters avoid surprises on election day and helps counter misinformation about why the results may take longer than expected.
City of Austin
💰 Two bond measures will be placed on the city ballot this fall:
- Proposition A: $260 million for a slate of Austin Parks and Recreation initiatives
- Proposition B: $35 million for two Austin Public Library branches
Every $100 million of new debt is now estimated to cost the typical Austin homeowner just over $14 in annual taxes. If approved, both propositions would add about $42 to property tax bills starting next year.
Read Austin calls $295M bond election for parks, library projects - Ben Thompson, Community Impact
Read Austin City Council signs off on $295 million bond proposal - Sam Stark, Austin Current
Read City Council, Mayor push to preserve Austin’s social safety net heading into final budget talks - Sam Stark, Austin Current
Read Residents seek transparency, oversight as Austin expands AI use - Ben Thompson, Community Impact
Data Centers
💧 Read Data center approvals in Texas halted until audits completed, Gov. Greg Abbott says - Paul Cobler, The Texas Tribune
Join the Advocacy Team: Contact Jazmin Cuellar, Advocacy Director | | Are you new to the League? Have you ever wondered just what it is that we do? Are you a long-time member ready for a refresh? Then League 101 is the place to be!
Join us at the League office on Saturday, August 29, from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Learn a little League history. Hear how LWVAA works to fulfill our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. Meet other new and prospective members and talk to veteran League volunteers about how you can get involved. We look forward to seeing you!
| | Misinformation is flowing freely online. Calls for government regulation of content are increasing. Even long-time defenders of a free press increasingly argue that digitization has altered communications so radically that we must change the law’s treatment of speech. Should we?
Join LWVAA on Saturday, September 19, when Dr. Tara Smith speaks to us about Freedom of the Press in a Digital World.
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📢 Take Action!
Tell Congress to reject strict voter ID requirements. Americans do not need MORE obstacles to vote.
Tell Congress to oppose the SAVE Act suite of bills. 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.
In the news
Read League of Women Voters, Campaign Legal Center Celebrate Victory as Court Blocks USCIS Rule. Civic engagement groups are now able to resume voter registration at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
| If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
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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. | |