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!
| New year, same mission, stronger community 💛
Let’s make 2026 the year we show up locally and do democracy together!
✨ Read LWVAA's Weekly VOTER to learn about events, actions, guides, and ways to get involved 👀✨
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Looking for an event to support 🗳️ democracy this week?
The LWVAA calendar is here to help!
🥳 Jan 10: LWVAA New Year Brunch Join LWVAA as we welcome the new year, honor our newest members, and celebrate all members! Reconnect with old friends, make new ones playing "get-acquainted BINGO", and discover ways to get involved with LWVAA in the upcoming year -- all while enjoying a delicious brunch buffet! Log in and RSVP here. If you need help registering, email lwvaustin@lwvaustin.org or call (512) 451-6710.
Volunteer Opportunities
🥳 Jan 10: We need a few more volunteers to bring food and to work the day of the New Year Brunch. Sign up to volunteer here (be sure to log in first!)
🗳️ Every Friday: Register voters at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
🗳️ Every Saturday: Register voters at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
📚 Check the event calendar for First Vote! opportunities
| Help Build Our Speakers Bureau | LWVAA is launching a Speakers Bureau in 2026!
The LWVAA Speakers Bureau will build a repository of audience-ready presentations and train volunteers to speak to outside groups, raising public awareness of the League and encouraging participation in our democracy.
Our board members have led the way on developing this valuable resource, as they have historically created and delivered many of our presentations. But we know how talented and experienced our members are, and we want you to be a part of this important community outreach effort.
Previous experience in public speaking is not required, and there are plenty of opportunities for folks who prefer to work behind the scenes. Besides speakers, we need volunteers to
- Mentor and train speakers
- Review and update current presentations and create new ones
- Create graphics and slide decks
- Perform fact-checking and research
- Schedule and coordinating speakers and presentations
Interested? Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. Responses are due by Wednesday, January 21.
| Volunteer From Home:
GOTV Postcards | We need YOUR help to encourage primary voting!
Volunteers are needed to address and sign postcards to voters who often skip primary elections, encouraging them to build a new habit this March: vote in the primary and "pick a winner." Hand-addressed and signed postcards are more likely to catch a voter’s attention and curiosity.
LWVAA will supply the preprinted postcards and address lists (no message writing required). You'll address and sign the cards at home, then return them to the League office. Postage will be added later.
Postcards and address lists will be available for pickup at the New Year Brunch on January 10. Future pickup dates will be announced in next week's Weekly VOTER and on our event calendar.
This is a simple, concrete way to help more voters participate early and help determine the choices on the November ballot.
|  | Picture This contest
New year, new art! 🎨 Show us how "Together We Thrive" and enter by March 8.
Who can enter: Elementary, middle, and high school students (grades 1–12)
What you can submit:
- Original visual art (drawing, painting, collage, or photo)
- Original writing (essay, poem, or short fiction, up to 500 words)
| AISD School Board Trustee Arati Singh: Public education is under attack
This interview with AISD School Board Trustee Arati Singh is part of a series of interviews with local elected officials during 2025 and 2026.
Singh’s path to public service started as a bilingual teacher and getting involved in the PTA at Oak Hill Elementary. As PTA president, she brought together native Spanish-speaking families and English-speaking families to build intentional outreach to create an inclusive environment.
Singh would like voters to understand that public education is under attack. She highlighted four major concerns -- defunding; ideological pressure; privatization and vouchers; and overemphasis on standardized tests and State takeovers -- and offered suggestions for how families can support their public schools.
| 🗣️ Be a voice for Austin
Austin Police Oversight (APO) is updating Austin’s Know Your Rights materials and needs community input. Learn about this effort and share your perspective by visiting the Know Your Rights community input page. Your feedback will directly shape the updated 2026 Know Your Rights resources.
The City of Austin is seeking public input as it develops a citywide Curbside Management Plan aimed at addressing competing uses for curb space. The upcoming plan is intended to help prioritize curb uses, reduce conflicts, and prepare for future changes, with a focus on safety, fairness, and efficiency.
Join a City Board or Commission
|  | | Celina Stewart, CEO LWVUS, speaks on the continuing fight for voting rights at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin in December. |
✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 Take action with LWVUS
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📰 Keep up with democracy news
Support democracy by supporting your local news!
Sign up for these newsletters:
| 🎉 Celebrate school districts partnering with LWVAA in providing First Vote! -- a free, nonpartisan, high school voter education and registration program which helps young voters become energized and ready to make their voices heard!
Austin ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Manor ISD, and Lake Travis ISD.
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Empower voters and support democracy at your events!
🗣️ Request a Speaker or Voter Registration Table here.
|  | Highlighted League & community events
🎟️ Jan 20: 6:00 p.m., AFS Theater. LWVAA joins the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in presenting Zurawski v Texas, a documentary that reveals the dire impact of losing access to reproductive healthcare and the extraordinary efforts of the women and men fighting on the frontline to regain those rights. The screening will be followed by a talk-back panel featuring plaintiff Amanda Zurawski; State Representative Donna Howard; and Dr. Amna Dermish, Chief Operating and Medical Services Director for Planned Parenthood. The $15 ticket price covers theater rental, documentary license fee, and speaker honoraria, and can be purchased here.
Key dates for the primary election
📬 Thu, Jan 1, 2026: First day to apply for a mail ballot
📝 Mon, Feb 2: Last day to register to vote
🗓️ Tue, Feb 17: Early voting
✉️ Fri, Feb 20: Last day to apply for a mail ballot (received, not postmarked)
✅ Fri, Feb 27: Last day of early voting
🗳️ Tue, Mar 3: Election Day!!!
📮 Tue, Mar 3: Mail ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. if not postmarked or by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, if postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day
| Welcome Our Newest Members! | Kris Brown
Susan Dempski
Westin Farley
Melissa Hostick
Brian Phillips
Linda Roark | Laura Santamaria
Jeff Spring
Ford Turner
Caroline Wang
Julie Wang | | | Gift memberships to any League can now be purchased online! To purchase a gift membership, log into or create an account at portal.lwv.org and click the "Gift" link in the Grow Our Community box. You do not have to be a League member to purchase a gift membership.
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Honor Mary's memory by making a donation to the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area.
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Be inspired. Read more about Bob:
| If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
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|  | Dogs for Democracy. Franklin visits the Washington Monument.
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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. | |