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. |
Read the full statement: League of Women Voters Condemns President Trump's Removal of Election Assistance Commission Commission | Three things you can do for democracy this week
- Share nonpartisan League resources in your community. Keep reading to see how two LWVAA members set up a League information table at their neighborhood's Fourth of July event.
- Become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar. Learn more here.
- Add democracy to your summer wardrobe. Shop LWVAA's online store.
| Central Austin, you get to vote soon!
Dog or cat for the next Austin Pet Mayor? You get to decide!
Join us on Saturday, July 25, from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Baker Center Cafetorium and cast your ballot for Franklin ๐ถ or Gus ๐ฑ.
๐ 3908 Avenue B
Every vote this summer counts toward the race for Austin Pet Mayor. Don't sit this one out!
๐ถ Read Sheriff Sally Hernandez's endorsement for Franklin
๐ฑ Read Council Member Paige Ellis's endorsement for Gus |
Help LWVAA provide voter resources in your neighborhood!
Ann Taylor (a member of LWVAA and a new VDR) and I set up at the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association's Fourth of July event at Barton Hills Elementary. Families and neighbors gathered after the neighborhood parade to celebrate the day, along with our friends from Amy's Ice Cream.
We talked to a lot of neighbors about the League and about PAWS to the Polls, which people were really excited to learn about! We also registered one voter. What was special is that he had turned 18 the day before, and it was Ann's first-ever voter registration as a VDR!
Kristen Ball, LWVAA Voters Guide Director
Learn more about becoming a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR).
| Volunteer for Paws to the Polls!
Our next Paws to the Polls "get out the vote" event is on Saturday, July 25, and we need you! Volunteer opportunities abound: setting up, helping folks find their way around, popping corn, helping with kids' activities, registering voters, and so much more. Sign up to volunteer here. Pro tip: watch this quick "how to" video before signing up. If you have any questions or if you need any additional help volunteering, contact Debbi Voss by email, or give her a call at 713-826-1580.
๐พ๐ชง 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 Thursday, July 16; find more information here. Want to help but can't make it during drop-in hours? Contact Joyce Jackson to set up a pick-up time.
Calling all VDRs!
๐ณ๏ธ July 14, 21, 28 - Register voters at the Hillside Concert Series
๐ณ๏ธ Every Friday - Register voters at Alamo Drafthouse (Mueller and South Lamar)
๐ณ๏ธ August 1 -- Register voters at Open Canopy
๐๏ธ Visit our calendar to sign up for a shift.
Want to help? Learn how to be a VDR here. Have an idea for how LWVAA can support registering voters? Contact our Voters Service team.
Could our Speakers Bureau be your sweet spot?
Are you looking to get more involved in the League this year? Do you believe that informed citizens make a stronger democracy? Do you like creating or presenting engaging, informative content? Then LWVAA's new Speakers Bureau just might be the place for you! The Speakers Bureau team is creating a repository of audience-ready presentations and has begun speaker training. If public speaking isn't for you, there are plenty of opportunities to work behind the scenes! To learn more, join us on Zoom at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, for "Find Your Sweet Spot With the Speakers Bureau." Register for the call here (be sure to log in first!). We'll see you on the 30th! For more information, contact Barbara Martin, Speakers Bureau Chair.
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Events this week
๐ณ๏ธ July 13: Votebeat: Submit your question to Votebeat reporters and have your questions answered live online during 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 theyโve done so before, even under immense pressure. Register here.
๐๏ธ July 14: Travis County Commissioners Court meeting - see agenda here.
๐ฐ July 17: City of Austin: Community Meeting on City of Austin Budget, District 9 - RSVP
๐ฐ July 19: City of Austin: Community Meeting on City of Austin Budget, District 6 - RSVP
| The Defender Network
"Fighting for voting rights is not just an argument for lawyers. It directly affects your day-to-day survival. To see how decisions made by politicians change your life, you only have to look at three monthly household bills."
Dig deeper - Read "The new era of protecting the Black vote in Texas" by ReShonda Tate |
The City of Austin budget affects all of us!
๐ฐ "City Manager T.C. Broadnax on Friday night proposed a $6.6 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for cuts to social service contracts, parks and public health programs, eliminates vacant positions across several departments and preserves funding for other priorities as the city continues to balance the budget."
Read "Austinโs proposed $6.6B budget would raise taxes, cut services after Prop Q defeat" by Sam Stark in the Austin Current.
Attend a community meeting hosted by your City Council Member on the proposed budget in July and August. Scroll down on this site to find a meeting in your City Council district. Review the community meeting presentation here.
Watch The Austin Common's video, "Eating My Way Through the City Budget #3"
Take Action: Email City Council members to share your thoughts on the budget. Make your voice heard!
The Austin Current
๐๏ธ For the first time in more than three decades, Travis Countyโs southeast Precinct 4 has a new voice on the Commissioners Court. Read "New Travis County Commissioner George Morales shares his vision for improving Precinct 4" by Sam Stark.
๐ณ๐ฃ Austin residents demand stronger environmental protections. Read "Austin leaders now seek stronger environmental safeguards for Dogโs Head" by Andrea Ball.
KUT News, The Austin Current
๐ A new navigation center aims to bring services to people experiencing homelessness on Austin's north side. Read "A new homeless navigation center is coming to North Austin" by Luz Moreno-Lozano.
Representative Donna Howard
๐ Watch "A Brief Review of Austin ISD's Finances"
Join the LWVAA Advocacy Team
โ๐ฝโ๐พโ๐ฟ Take action on League priorities today -- join the LWVAA Advocacy Team! Contact Jazmin Cuellar, Advocacy Director, at advocacy@lwvaustin.org. |
LWVUS
Speak up on issues that matter!
Keep up the pressure
๐ณ๏ธ Take Action: Tell Congress to oppose the SAVE Act Suite of bills
News: League of Women Voters Elects Sania Irwin as National Board President
News: Federal Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Voting Rights Organizations Seeking to Protect Colorado Vote
| Highlighted League & community events
| July 25:
LWVAA: PAWS to the Polls Central Austin - RSVP
LWVAA: First Vote! Training at ACC Highland - Register
July 22:
Texas Tribune: How Data Centers Are Reshaping Texas Communities - Register
City of Austin: Community meeting on City of Austin budget, District 7 - RSVP
July 28:
City of Austin: Community meeting on City of Austin budget, District 3 - RSVP
City of Austin: Community meeting on City of Austin budget, District 6 - RSVP
July 30:
City of Austin: Community meeting on City of Austin budget, District 2 - RSVP
LWVAA: Find Your Sweet Spot With the Speakers Bureau - Register (log in first!)
July 31:
LWVAA Summer Mixer at The Brewtorium - RSVP
| If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
Share the LWVAA Weekly VOTER with your friends!
|  | Santa was caught on camera empowering voters with League volunteers!
Ho ho ho!
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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. | |