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Date: 2/16/2026
Subject: The Weekly VOTER, Feb. 16, 2026 - LWV of the Austin Area
From: LWV of the Austin Area




February 16, 2026


The Weekly VOTER masthead

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! 
 

Primary election Early Voting Starts Tomorrow
Empowering Voters

woman holding up the Voters Guide

Guess who was thrilled to see the Voters Guide? Pat Stanley, a long time LWV Midland member, who is 90+ years young and now lives in Austin. Share your photo with the Voters Guide with communications@lwvaustin.org.

The primary election -- the vote before the vote!
(AKA "the one where you actually choose the candidates.")
 
When turnout is low, your vote carries more weight. And your choices shape courts, budgets, and everyday life in our community. If you care who runs things, this is your moment!
 

✅ Monday, Feb 2 - Last day to register to vote
✅ Friday, Feb 6 - The LWV Voters Guide and  VOTE411.org are live!
✅ Tuesday, Feb 17 - Friday, Feb 27 - Vote Early
✅ Friday, Feb 20 - Last day to apply for a mail ballot (received, not postmarked)
✅ Tuesday, Mar 3 - Primary Election Day

Note: Mail ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day - learn more.

🗳️ Share the Voters Guide!

💙  Elections are happening now, and voting starts with good info. 💙

or use VOTE411 to create a personalized Voters Guide
🖨️ Print or write out your choices - Use this convenient worksheet
🗳️ Take your list to the polls and vote (remember, cell phones aren't allowed in the voting booth)
Contact our Voters Service team for more information.

Volunteer With LWVAA

Thanks to all the postcard volunteers
Kudos to our volunteers!
As we wrap up our get out the vote (GOTV) campaign for the March 3 primary, we want to thank all of the LWVAA volunteers and friends who helped address and stamp almost 21,000 postcards, stapled zines, and assembled 500 GOTV tote bags to help Austin area voters show up to the polls prepared to cast their ballots. Whether you held postcard parties with your friends or civic group, worked at the League office, or addressed cards on your own, give yourself a round of applause -- we couldn't have done it without you!
 
If you need to turn in addressed postcards or if you would like to help stamp cards, the League office will be open from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, and Thursday, February 19. If these hours are inconvenient, contact Joyce Jackson to arrange a drop-off time.

🇺🇸🗳️ Be an Election Protection volunteer!

Volunteer to empower voters with accurate voter information, document any problems voters might have at the polls, and report barriers to voting. The League of Women Voters, a member of the Election Protection Coalition, needs volunteers to monitor the polls during early voting and on Election Day. 

Virtual Training is provided on Tuesdays at 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. through February 28.

Sign Up for Training

Register voters with the League

🗳️  Fridays: Register voters at Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar & Mueller
🗳️  Saturdays: Register voters at Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
 
Contact Voters Service to learn about more voter registration opportunities.
Contact our Volunteer team for questions, or review general volunteer opportunities here.
 

26.2.16 Watch comment share
💜 💛 🗳️ Help Reach More Voters With LWVAA Social Media!

Now is the time to Get Out the Vote (GOTV). We need you to comment, share, and support our algorithm. Light up our views!  Get LWVAA graphics and videos seen by more voters! The more you comment and share, the more social media algorithms will surface LWVAA GOTV messages to voters.  

Find an Event

From Poll Taxes to Maps Event announcement
⚖️ Join us online on February 19 for LWVAA online presentation of  From Poll Taxes to Maps: A Legal History of Voter Suppression in Texas
Celebrate Black History Month!
🗽 Recommended Read
 
The Civil Rights era was a time when everyday people took action to change the trajectory of our world. People sat in at lunch counters, boycotted businesses, and marched for justice. Today, the fight for voting rights and human dignity is still raging. There are moments when history feels as if it is repeating itself, but it is our responsibility to keep the righteous fight.

Read: Women Leaders of the Civil Rights Era from the LWVUS blog.

League & community events this week
 
Feb 17: 
City of Austin - 2026 Bond Open House at Montopolis Recreation Center
LWVAA - Postcard Drop-In at the Baker Center (drop off / stamp only)
 Feb 18: LWV Wilco - Lunch & Learn: Congressional Redistricting 
Feb 19: Postcard Drop-In at the Baker Center (drop off / stamp only)
Feb 21:
LWVAA - League 101: Information session for current & prospective members
City of Austin - 2026 Bond Open House at Northwest Recreation Center
 

Triviacracy Invitation
🎉 Support the Voters Guide! Buy your tickets to TRIVIACRACY!

Join us on Sunday, March 8, at Central Machine Works for an afternoon of civics trivia, live music, great food, and connection -- all supporting our nonpartisan Voters Guide in a critical election year.

The event features live music and a relaxed mixer vibe. Come early to meet new people, join a trivia team, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy the atmosphere before gameplay begins.

Tickets are $125 per person and include:
  • A three-course buffet
  • Two drink tickets
  • Trivia, music, and an amazing, democracy-loving crowd

Defending Democracy

📢 Speak up on the City of Austin 2026 Bond 
 
During the month of February, staff will conduct 2026 Bond Open House engagement activities, including a second survey, to inform Austinites about proposed bond projects and gather feedback that will help shape final recommendations to the City Council and the Mayor.
 
Find locations and times on our Events Calendar.
 
Contact the Advocacy Committee for more information.

Urgent! Tell Congress to Reject the Save Act!
Oppose Proof of Citizenship to register to vote.
 
Congress continues to introduce bills that would require voters to present documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to register and/or vote. It's already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Requiring documentary proof of American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections is unnecessary and seeks to divide us. It simply creates another barrier to voting.
 
Many communities of eligible voters would be unnecessarily burdened by the requirements of these bills, including military voters, people of color, married women who've changed their names, and people who've lost important documentation due to natural disasters.
 

📜 Read news from LWVUS

Democracy in the News

📰 Keep up with democracy in the news

Mark Your Calendar!

Revolution graphic
Highlighted League & community events  
Feb 24:
City of Austin - 2026 Bond Open House at the Permitting & Development Center
The Texas Tribune - TribCast Live: Previewing the 2026 Primary
Feb 25:
LWV Wilco - Lunch & Learn: All About the Primary Election
City of Austin - 2026 Bond Open House - Virtual Meeting
Feb 28:
City of Austin - 2026 Bond Open House at Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center 
Mar 2: Austin PBS: American Revolution Screening & Community Conversation
Mar 4: TribCast Live: Breaking Down the 2026 Primary Results
Mar 8: TRIVIACRACY 2026: A Civics Trivia Fundraiser benefiting LWVAA
Mar 10: LBJ Future Forum: The State of Voting Rights
Mar 23: National Constitution Center: Elizabeth Cady Stanton & the Legacy of the 19th Amendment



Grand Opening of the New LWV Shop
🛍️ Support voting. Shop with the League.

Stop scrolling and start shopping at the all new LWVAA Shop. You'll find voting and democracy themed t-shirts, stickers, yard signs, bags and more! 

The Voters Guide and the new shop got a shout-out!
 
👂🏽 Listen to the CityCast podcast from February 10. At the 10:30 mark, the hosts chat about the Voters Guide and went on and on about the cute items in the Shop.

Partner for Democracy
Empower voters and support democracy at your events!

🗣️ Request a speaker or voter registration table here.


Membership News

Gift memberships are back!
 
Gift memberships to any League can now be purchased online! To purchase a gift membership, log into or create an account at the LWV Member Portal 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.
 
Questions? Contact our Membership Chair.

If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
Share the LWVAA Weekly VOTER with your friends!
 

Just one more thing.

🗳️ Franklin reads the Voters Guide. Do you?
 

Give to Support the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area

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.

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Email: lwvaustin@lwvaustin.org
Phone: 512-451-6710
LWV Austin Area
3908 Avenue B
Austin, TX 78751

The League of Women Voters Austin Area is proud to be a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots civic organization neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.

The League of Women Voters Austin Area is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and tax exempt organization.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law. Tax identification number:
81-3447172