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!
| Democracy is a team effort! Last week was Election Heroes Day. However you supported democracy this election, the League appreciates you! Read The League Celebrates Election Heroes on the Front Lines of Democracy Ahead of 2026 Midterms by LWVUS. | Empowering Voters.
Defending Democracy. | 🗳️ Go to VOTE411.org, enter your address to get a personalized ballot, or check out our nonpartisan Voters Guide here.
| 📢 Three things to do for democracy this week
1. Share nonpartisan resources voters trust!
✅ Print and share the Midterm Election Ballot Worksheet in English or Spanish. It pairs perfectly with the Voters Guide (remember, you can't use your phone or any other electronic device in a polling location). Stop by the League office to pick up printed worksheets, flyers, stickers, and voter education material. Check our calendar for drop-in hours or email Joyce Jackson to schedule a time to meet.
Watch City of Austin candidate forums
The Voters Guide covers candidates running in the midterm election for state, county, city, and school district offices and provides explanations for local propositions and bonds. Voters like seeing the candidates' views on issues and explanations of propositions written in plain language. Read it before you cast your vote in the midterm election, then share it with others.
📲 VOTE411 provides a personalized Voters Guide.
💻 The LWVAA website provides trusted voting and election information and PDF versions of the Voters Guide.
📰 Find a printed Voters Guide at locations across Travis County.
2. Get out the vote!
📫 If a voter you know hasn't mailed their ballot by mail, avoid late USPS postmarks! Ask the post office to manually postmark the envelope and learn about vote by mail options here.
🗣️ Talk with your neighbors, friends, and family about the voting process. Tell your story about how local, state, and federal elected officials affect your everyday life: your job, health care, bills, education, food, transportation, etc.
🗳️ Share your "I voted" sticker photo with communications@lwvaustin.org so we can share it on social media!
3. Volunteer for Election Protection
⚖️ Support voters on Election Day who may encounter confusing voting rules, misinformation, and other barriers to participation. Attend an online training here. | This week's events
Oct. 26
❤️🩹 Austin Equity and Inclusion: Know Your Rights - Healthcare Access - Join webinar
Oct. 27
Dendrofemonology: A Feminist History Tree Ring - Sculpture installation, artist's talk, and film premier at Austin Central Library - RSVP
Upcoming events
Nov. 3
🗳️ Election Day - Info
📬 Voting by mail options - Info
Nov. 13
🏢 LBJ School: Powering the AI Buildout: Data Centers, Public Power, & the Municipal Market - RSVP
Nov. 17
🏡 Austin Equity and Inclusion: Know Your Rights - Housing - Join webinar
Nov. 21
LWVAA: Transparency in Local Government - How can you tell when local government is being transparent -- and when it isn’t? Join two former Travis County Commissioners for a candid conversation about how city and county decisions are made, what information residents should be able to access and understand, where transparency can fall short, and what citizens can do when it does. - Register
| Volunteer at Let's Vote tables at ACC Riverbat Bash events
Volunteers will connect with students, sharing the Voters Guide and VOTE411 along with other voting and election resources.
Oct. 27:
Sign up to volunteer at Let's Vote tables
Help staff LWVAA Let's Vote tables at Alamo Draft House and other locations. Share the Voters Guide and VOTE411 along with other voting and election resources.
Oct. 30:
Oct. 31:
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LWVAA maintains an online event calendar for meetings, trainings, voter outreach, and registration opportunities.
| | From left to right: Brydan Summers, Bill Aleshire, David Butts, Council Member Duchen. | Thank you, attendees and panelists
It was a full house at the John Gillum Branch Library on October 10 for LWVAA’s “What’s on My Ballot” panel on city bond Propositions A and B and citizen initiative Proposition I. Panelists Marc Duchen (Council Member, District 10), Bill Aleshire (former Travis County Judge), Brydan Summers (President, AFSCME Local 1624), and David Butts (political consultant) approached the measures from genuinely different angles. Their exchange, along with questions from the floor, gave attendees a far fuller picture of what’s on their ballot, including what each measure would set in motion if it passes and what would remain unresolved if it doesn’t.
- Joanne Richards, Director of Education | Midterm Election
🗳️ Read Travis County breaks first-day early voting turnout record for every midterm election this century - Katy McAfee, KUT
🗳️ Read What Austin voters should know about Prop I and the other local propositions on the ballot - Gabriel Velasquez Neira, KUT News
Local Government
💰 Read Austin approved $566M without voter say, including projects cut from this November’s bond package - Andrea Ball, The Austin Current
💰 Read Austin’s own DOGE? Debate over how to audit City Hall heats up as election nears - Sam Stark, The Austin Current | Take Action
Oppose Unconstitutional Census Rule Change: On September 10, the Census Bureau announced sweeping changes to how we count people on the census. The proposed rule would severely distort population counts, create inaccurate representations of communities during apportionment and redistricting, and disrupt how state and local governments plan essential public services. With a rule change this drastic, more time should be allowed for public comment. Make your voice heard before November 2! Tell Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the Census Bureau to roll back these proposed rules and to extend the public comment period until December 10.
News
Read League of Women Voters and Advancement Project File Amicus Brief in RNC v. Mi Familia Vota
Blog
Read Why Immigration is Central to Our Nation by LWVUS president Sania Irwin - Few things are more deeply woven into the story of the United States than immigration. Our multicultural population is one of the United States' greatest strengths. Yet some current policies are pulling us away from that strength...and from the ideals our nation has long aspired to uphold.
Read Our Favorite VOTE411 Moments by LWVUS Staff - October 27 is VOTE411's birthday! We're reflecting on some of our favorite moments in the nonpartisan voting guide's history. | There’s no rule against costumes at the polls…but here are some important things to keep in mind:
🎃 Costumes must be nonpartisan (no candidate names, slogans, or political logos)
📜 Nothing referencing what’s on the ballot
👕 Avoid campaign shirts, hats, or buttons
😷 Don’t cover your face or identity
⚖️ And remember, election officials can ask you to remove anything they find disruptive
Early voting ends this Friday, October 30. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. Learn more at votetravis.gov and vote411.org. | 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. | |