Session 1: Voter Registration (1:05:45 webinar)

In this first session, we will cover “Voter Registration Information”, where we will discuss the Whos, Whats, Wheres, Whens, Whys, and Hows of Voter Registration with time left over for a Question & Answer session.

Recorded: August 29, 2020

Topics: Voter Registration 

Speaker: Maria Milner, LWV Austin Area 2nd Vice President – Community Relations and Equity and Inclusion

Session 2: The Geography of Your Government (28:30 webinar)

In the second session of the Civics 101 series, the LWV-AA welcomes guest speaker Mary Patrick, long time Voter Deputy Registrar in Travis County, to discuss how to read the numbers on your Voter Registration Card and make them make sense to your voter knowledge. This session will have some great information regarding how to understand the layout of your districts and how its related to how much of an impact your vote makes locally.  

Recorded: September 5, 2020

Topics: Voter Registration Card ; Political jurisdictions

Speaker: Mary Patrick, Travis County VDR

Session 3: Researching Your Ballot and How to Cast Your Vote (47:21 webinar)

In this third session, we will cover where and how to research resources to help you make informed decisions regarding your ballot. We will also be covering the process at the polling place and the alternatives available.

Recorded: September 12, 2020

Topics Covered: 

• Researching your ballot and finding credible sources of information
• Finding out what is on your ballot
• Vote411.org
• LWV-AA Voter’s Guide
• Casting your vote
• What I.D. do I need?
• When is early voting?
• When are the polls open?
• How do I find a polling location?
• How does voting work?
• How do I get an Absentee/Vote by Mail ballot?

Speaker: Jennifer Delk, LWV Austin Area Community Relations Director

Session 4: How to Help at Your Polling Place (1:05:52 webinar)

In this fourth session, we will discuss the role and responsibility of being a Polling Place Worker or Polling Place Judge, and cover the ways in which you can ask for assistance at your polling place, whether it be through curbside voting or translation help.  

Recorded: September 22, 2020

Topics Covered: 

• Asking for help at the polling place
• Voters with Disabilities
• Accessible voting systems
• In Person Voting
• Ballot By Mail
• Voters with Language Needs
• Covid Safety
• Special Accommodations
• Election Protection
• How to help at the polls

Speakers: Maria Milner, LWV Austin Area 2nd Vice President – Community Relations and Equity and Inclusion ; Josh Levin, Texas Civil Rights Project

2022 Researching Your Ballot and How to Cast Your Vote (32:54 webinar)

In this session we will cover where and how to research resources to help you make informed decisions regarding your ballot. We will also be covering the process at the polling place and the alternatives available.

Recorded: January 18, 2022

Topics Covered: 

• Voter Registration 
• Updating your voter registration 
• What is a Primary Election? 
• Finding out what is on your ballot 
• Texas has NEW Districts
• Researching your ballot and finding credible sources of information
• LWV Austin Area Voter’s Guide
• VOTE411.org 
• Casting your vote 
• What I.D. do I need? 
• When is early voting? 
• When are the polls open? 
• How do I find a polling location? 
• How does voting work? 
• Assistance at the polls 
• Vote by mail eligibility and application 
• Voting by mail 

Speaker: Jennifer Delk, LWV Austin Area Community Relations Director

Session 5: Know the Vote Fall 2020: Local and County Elections (1:16:2 webinar)

In the fifth session of the Civics 101 series we will be going over Local and County Elections.

Recorded September 21, 2020

Topics Covered:

• Austin City Council
• Bonds overview, Proposition A, Proposition B
• County Commissioner and Commissioners Court
• Local Law Enforcement
•  County Sheriff 
• County Constable
• Criminal Justice
• Texas District Attorney
• County Attorney
• District Courts, County Courts at Law, Appeals Courts
• Texas Judicial System
• Civil vs Criminal Courts
• County Judges
• County Tax Assessor

Speakers: Jessica Foreman, Director of Advocacy for LWV Austin Area ; Amy Stansbury, Editor-In-Chief of The Austin Common

Session 6: Know the Vote Fall 2020: ISD Elections (40:58 webinar)

In the sixth session of the Civics 101 series, we will be covering Education on the Ballot.

Recorded: October 2, 2020

Topics:

• Education is on the ballot at many levels
• President 
• Congress 
• Governor 
• Texas Legislature
• State Board of Education
• School Board 
• Trustees
• District Budget and Tax Rate
• School Bonds 
•  VATRE

Speakers: Laura Yeager Founder/ Director, Texas Educators Vote, Co-Founder/Director, Just Fund It TX, Board Member, Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA), AISD for All Steering Committee ; Heather Sheffield Eanes ISD Trustee – Place 6 *Presenting as an individual and NOT as a Trustee NOT representing the EISD Board, Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA) – Board President, Eanes Advocates – Founder, Volunteer Deputy Registrar

Session 7: Know the Vote Fall 2020: State Elections (28 min webinar)

In this 7th session of the Civics 101 series, we will be covering the following State Elections.

Recorded October 10, 2020

Topics:

• Texas Government Structure
• Executive Branch
• Railroad Commissioner
• State Board of Education
• Legislative Branch
• State Senator
• State Representative
• Judicial Branch
• Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice
• Texas Supreme Court Justices 
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judges
• Texas Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Speaker: Jennifer Delk, LWV Austin Area Community Relations Director

Session 8: Know the Vote Fall 2020: Federal Elections (35 min webinar)

In this 8th session of the Civics 101 series, we will be covering Federal Elections.

Topics: 

• President
• US House of Representatives
• US Senate

Speaker: Maria Milner, LWV-AA 2nd Vice President – Community Relations and Equity and Inclusion

Know the Vote Fall 2022: Executive and Legislative Branches (24:44 min webinar)

Let's get ready for the March 1 Primaries!

Recorded February 1, 2022

Topics:

• What is a Primary Election?
• Texas has NEW Districts
• Three Branches of Government
• Governor
• Lieutenant Governor
• Attorney General
• Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Agriculture Commissioner
• Land Commissioner
• Railroad Commissioner
• State Board of Education
• U.S. House Representative
• State Representative
• State Senator
• What's your voting plan?
• LWV-AA Voter’s Guide
• Vote411.org

Speaker: Jennifer Delk, LWV-AA Community Relations Director

Know the Vote Fall 2022: Judicial Branch (40:44 min webinar)

Let's get ready for the March 1 Primaries!

Recorded February 8, 2022

Topics:

• What is a Primary Election?
• Texas has NEW Districts
• Three Branches of Government
• Principals to consider in choosing a Judge/Justice
• Hot topics in the courts
• Texas Judicial Structure and Function
• Texas Supreme Court 
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• Texas Courts of Appeals
• District Judges
• Civil District Courts
• Criminal District Courts
• County Judge
• County Court at Law
• Justices of the Peace
• Where can you find information on the candidates
• What's your voting plan?
• LWV Austin Area Voter’s Guide
• Vote411.org

Speaker: Jessica Foreman, LWV Austin Area Community Relations Advocacy Director

Session 1: Understanding Your Government – Who represents you? (36:08 webinar)

New year, so many new representatives. 

Let’s find out who represents you and discuss ways to engage with them. Live Question & Answer session at the end of the webinar.

Recorded: January 23, 2021

Topics:

•  Locating your representatives 
• Finding the right office to contact
• Tips for contacting your representative
• Other ways to engage with your representative

Speaker: Jennifer Delk, LWV Austin Area Community Relations Director

Session Resources

Session 2: Understanding Your Government – U.S. Congress (42:54 webinar)

Let’s learn how the U.S. Congress is made up, what the powers of the Congress are and what they are not, how to find your representatives, how to find and follow proposed legislation, and tips for contacting your representatives. 

Recorded: March 6, 2021

Topics: 

• United States Congress
• House of Representatives
• Senate
• Locating your representatives 
• Finding the right office to contact
• Tips for contacting your representative
• How to find current session  bills

Speaker: Maria Milner, LWV Austin Area 2nd Vice President – Community Relations and Equity and Inclusion

Session Resources

Session 3: Understanding Your Government – The Differences between the U.S. Congress and the State Legislature (37:13 webinar)

Let’s learn how to distinguish the reach of the U.S. Congress and the State Legislature, the differences between the law-making process, and the times of sessions. 

Recorded: March 13, 2021

Topics:

• United States Congress
• Texas Legislature
• Texas House of Representatives
• Texas Senate
• Similarities and differences between the US House of Representatives and the Texas House of Representatives
• Similarities and differences between the US Senate and the Texas Senate
• Similarities and differences between the US Congress and the Texas Legislature 
• Locating your representatives 
• Finding the right office to contact
• Tips for contacting your representative
• How to find current session  bills

Speaker: Maria Milner, LWV Austin Area 2nd Vice President – Community Relations and Equity and Inclusion

Session Resources

Session 4: Understanding Your Government – Engaging with City Council (42:14 webinar)

Let’s learn about engaging with our local leadership. Who are they? What do they do? How can we work with them?

Recorded: April 14, 2021 

Topics:

• City of Austin Charter
• Council-Mayor Government
• City of Austin organization chart
• City Council Districts
• Redistricting
• Mayor
• City Council Member
• Mayor Pro-Tem
• City Manager
• How do I get to know city leaders?
• Tips for contacting city leaders
• City Council meetings
• Tips for speaking
• Watching live or past meetings
• City message board
• City Boards and Commissions
• How do propositions get on the ballot?
• Initiative Petitions
• Council Sponsored 

Speakers: Amy Stansbury, Editor-In-Chief of The Austin Common ; Jennifer Delk, LWV-AA Community Relations Director

Session Resources

Session 5: Understanding Your Government – Engaging with the School Board ( 1:01 webinar)

Let’s learn about engaging with the school board. Who are they? What do they do? How can we work with them?

Recorded: May 26, 2021 

Topics: 

• Who makes decisions about public education?
• What does the School Board do?
• School Board Elections
• Austin Independent School District (AISD) School Board
• Eanes Independent School District (EISD) School Board
• Why do School Board elections matter?
• How do I get to know the School Board Trustees?
• Tips for contacting the School Board

Speakers: Heather Sheffield, Eanes ISD Trustee – Place 6 *Presenting as an individual and NOT as a Trustee NOT representing the EISD Board, Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA) – Board President, Eanes Advocates – Founder; and Arati Singh, Austin ISD Trustee At-Large and Board Secretary *Presenting as an individual and NOT as a Trustee NOT representing the AISD Board

Session Resources

Session 6: Understanding Your Government – Education at the State Level ( 48:48 webinar)

Lets learn about engaging with officials that control education at the state level. Who makes policy? What happened in the latest Texas Legislative Session? How do we engage with leadership?

Recorded: June 24, 2021

Topics: 

• Who makes education policy?
• What issues are decided at the state level?
• League of Women Voters of Texas Public Education Positions
• 87th Legislative Session: Jan-May 2021 Education topics
• Advocacy case study - Just Fund It TX advocates for increased funding for Texas Schools
• Engaging with local elected officials
• Tips for engaging at every level of government
• High Stakes Standardized Testing
• Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA)

Speaker: Laura Subrin Yeager,  Founder/ Director, Texas Educators Vote, Co-Founder/Director, Just Fund It TX, Board Member, Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment (TAMSA)

Session Resources

This self-paced course was created by the League of Women Voters Austin Area to help the citizens of Travis and Williamson county learn more about their local county officials.

Check out this short, interactive modules you can view on your computer, tablet, or phone.  

Click here to learn about county judges, commissioners, and more!