Date: 7/6/2026
Subject: The Weekly VOTER, July 6, 2026 - LWV of the Austin Area
From: LWV of the Austin Area

July 6, 2026

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!

Sign Up for the Weekly VOTER

Three things you can do for democracy this week

Some people want us to believe that this country -- and the right to celebrate its 250th anniversary -- are only for a select few. But the truth is, America is for all of us.

While LWVUS is busy working to advance voting rights across the country, LWV of the Austin Area is serving voters and future voters right here at home. We hope you find opportunities below to volunteer, take action, and attend events to make democracy work.

Review the League’s responses to Supreme Court rulings below.
Join us to defend a democracy for all of us. Sign up for our Unite and Rise 8.5 initiative.
We the people are America. Let us know why the League matters to you and find ways to support your community below.

Thank you for fighting for our democracy.

Grace Chimene, LWVAA Communications Team Leader

Contact - communications@lwvaustin.org

Empowering Voters.

Defending Democracy.

LWVUS on recent Supreme Court rulings

⚖️ Birthright Citizenship Ruling Is a Critical Win — And a Warning We Cannot Ignore "The Fourteenth Amendment is not a suggestion, it is a guarantee, and no president has the power to erase constitutional rights with the stroke of a pen. This ruling prevents a profound democratic crisis and protects millions of families from uncertainty and reaffirms that no individual -- not even the president -- is above the Constitution" - Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters

💰 Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Campaign Finance Provision, Turning Political Parties Into Conduits for Big Donors "As an organization committed to protecting a free and fair democracy, the League strongly condemns today’s ruling, which dismantles decades-long protections against coordinated spending in campaigns." - Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters.

📫 Supreme Court Protects Mail Voting and Preserves States’ Authority Over Ballot Receipt Rules. “This decision protects the fundamental principle that people should not lose their right to vote because of mail delays outside their control." - Coalition statement

🗳️ Voting Rights Groups Applaud Ruling Declaring 2026 Executive Order Interference with Voter Rolls and Mail-in Ballots Unconstitutional and Unlawful. "The court rightly recognized that the President and the executive branch lack both the legal authority and the capacity to compile a complete and accurate list of US citizens or eligible voters in every state. The ruling also rightly recognizes that the US Postal Service has no authority to limit the distribution of mail ballots." - Joint statement

⚖️ Supreme Court Upholds State Laws Barring Transgender Girls from School Athletics "Today’s decision sends a dangerous message that some students are less worthy of dignity, opportunity, and belonging." - Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters

Learn more - LWVUS Newsroom

Attend an Event

🐾 🗳️ What a paws-itively awesome day! We had a blast at Manor's Paws to the Polls event last week, helping voters and future voters experience the voting process.

LWVAA teamed up with the Travis County Clerk's Office to give folks a chance to research candidates using a special edition of our nonpartisan Voters Guide and our online resource, VOTE411, then cast a ballot on real Travis County voting machines. It was a fun, hands-on way to learn how voting works and to build confidence for Election Day.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to learn, participate, and celebrate civic engagement with us!

If you couldn't make it to Manor, don't let it ruffle your feathers. Visit our Paws to the Polls page to see where we'll be next!

Paws to the Polls in the news!

KXAN: Franklin the dog and Gus the cat are helping teach kids and new voters how the voting process works. Pet election aims to demystify voting, teach new voters how the process works by Abigail Jones.

KLRU: In Manor, an election between a cat and a dog aims to ease voting apprehension and boost civic engagement.Travis County's pet mayor election aims to help first-time voters build confidence before November by Michael Courier.

Find more PAWS to the Polls events

Events this week

July 7: 📜 National Constitution Center and the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law: 2026 Supreme Court Review featuring leading constitutional law scholars and commentators.

July 13: 🗳️Votebeat: Submit your question to Votebeat reporters and have your questions answered live online at Will the Midterms Happen? Your Election Questions, Answered. Elections happen because thousands of local officials follow state and local laws requiring them to happen -- and history shows they’ve done so before, even under immense pressure.

Volunteer

Share your volunteer time with the League!

🐾🪧 Help us spread the word about Paws to the Polls by putting up a yard sign or two in your neighborhood, or by asking local businesses to post flyers or set out informational material. LWVAA has everything you need! The office will be open from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, and Thursday, July 9. Want to help but can't make it during drop-in hours? Contact Joyce Jackson to set up a pick-up time.

🗳️ This summer, Volunteer Deputy Registrars (VDRs) will register voters at the Alamo Drafthouse, Open Canopy, the Central Public Library, and more. Want to help? Learn how to be a VDR here. Have an idea for how LWVAA can support registering voters? Contact voterservices@lwvaustin.org.

🗳️ Visit our calendar to sign up for a shift registering voters.

Volunteer with us!

Share your time and talents with LWVAA! Email volunteer@lwvaustin.org.

Find Volunteer Opportunities and Events

Democracy in the News

New York Times

🗳️ Read Mourning the Silence of Civic Education, by Chan-Yul Kim, 16, of McNeil High School right here in Austin, one of the winners of The Learning Network’s Student Open Letter Contest.

Advocacy

Did you know?

🏙️ The Austin City Council currently operates under a so-called “10-1” system that was approved by voters in 2012 -- less than fifteen years ago. This change to the City Charter created ten geographic City Council districts, with the mayor elected citywide. The first election under this system was held in November 2014, and a new council was inaugurated in January 2015.

Before 2015, Austin had an "at-large" system of governance, which meant that council members were elected by voters across the entire city instead of by specific districts. The change made it so each council member represents a specific area of the city.

Check it out here: History of Council | Austin City Clerk's Office | AustinTexas.gov

Issues important to you

KUT News, The Austin Current

🎒📚 The Austin Independent School District is postponing most of its districtwide school boundary realignment changes until the 2028-29 school year. Learn more: Austin ISD postpones districtwide boundary changes, says more school closures are possible.

Join the Advocacy Team
✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 There are many ways to have your voice heard by elected officials and policymakers. Take action on League priorities today by joining the LWVAA Advocacy Team. Contact Jazmin Cuellar, Advocacy Director, at advocacy@lwvaustin.org.

LWVUS

Speak up on issues that matter!

Urgent: Tell Congress to stop interfering with DC!

Blog: Juneteenth and the Danger of Selective Memory

Blog: Teaching Advocacy as a Mom

LWVUS Newsroom LWVUS Blog Take Action With LWV

Mark Your Calendar!

Highlighted League & community events

July 22: Texas Tribune - Fast Build, Slow Policy: How Data Centers Are Reshaping Texas Communities

July 25:

LWVAA: PAWS to the Polls Central Austin

LWVAA: First Vote! Training (ACC Highland)

September 15: National Voter Registration Day - the League has been the number one recruiting partner: let’s keep that trend going!

Find More Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Welcome Our Newest Members!

Lil Buchanan
Kathryn Cox
Linda Curcio
Cady Eggleston
Brian Evans

Helen Fanick
Beth Fuston
Lisa Glenn
Kay Greenfield
Grace McEvoy

If you've read this far, it must be worth it.

Share the LWVAA Weekly VOTER with your friends!

Get the Weekly VOTER in Your Inbox!

Take a moment to smile.

Grace with statue of Arnold Schwarzenegger

💪📸 Grace Chimene shows off her League of Women Voters "power pose" alongside the iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger statue near the LWVUS Convention -- because defending democracy takes muscle, too!

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.

Return to Previous Page