Action News- October 2023

October 2023 Action News!

President's Message

Happy 104th Birthday, League of Women Voters of Texas!

Over 40,000 members and supporters have taken action this year on voting rights, public education, equality, gun safety, and reproductive justice. You and I are following in the footsteps of thousands of women and men who worked to expand the principles of suffrage, equality, and democracy for over 200 years.

Almost a year before Congress passed the 19th Amendment, suffrage advocates from across Texas gathered in San Antonio at the St. Anthony's Hotel on October 19th, 1919 to form the League of Women Voters of Texas. Under the leadership of its first president, Jessie Daniel Ames of Georgetown, who served from 1919 to 1923, LWV Texas focused its efforts on educating the newly enfranchised women voters of the state. (To learn more, click here.) Now, 104 years later, we are still going strong, empowering voters and defending democracy through advocacy and education.

We are counting on you to get out the vote for the November election! We resolve to be vigilant and take action in the special session that begins on Oct. 9th, to preserve quality education for all Texas students.

Thank you for standing with the League to empower voters and defend democracy!

The League of Women Voters of Texas is working tirelessly to advocate for all Texans this election season and beyond. Donate $104 today to celebrate the League's 104th birthday and support our mission of empowering voters and defending democracy!

Donate Today!

Your Texas League in Action

88th Legislative Advocacy Update
Elisabeth MacNamara, LWVTX Vice President Advocacy

Governor Abbott has promised a special session focused on Educational Savings Accounts beginning on October 9th.SB 8, the Governor’s bill in the regular session, did not get out of committee in the House. According to the Texas Tribune, the Governor promises successive sessions on this subject. It remains to be seen whether he will add anything else to the call. Please look for Action Alerts on this topic. The League has a long history of opposing school vouchers. It is essential that we continue to protect our public school funding by continuing to oppose them.

Read more, including info on the 10-year anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder decision and an update on SB 1 litigation here.

VOTE411.org is Live!

LWV's online, interactive voting guide, VOTE411.org, is now live! Visit VOTE411.org to learn more about each proposed amendment, as well as information about your polling location, early voting options, ID requirements, registering to vote, and more!

In addition to the printed Voters Guide, which is available in English and in Spanish and distributed to libraries across Texas, the League has produced PDF versions of the Voters Guide in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simple Chinese, which you can find on our website here.

View our 2023 Texas Constitutional Amendment Election press release "The Information You Need for the November Election is Ready" here.

LWV Texas also produced and released “Explainer Videos” for each of the proposed amendments and can be found on our YouTube channel here. Thank you to Grace Chimene, along with our Voters Education committee and the student volunteers for doing such a great job on these videos! Please share them widely with your friends and networks!

LWV Texas also created election social media graphics, flyers, and bookmarks available to download. Please feel free to use them to help promote the election and encourage people to register and get out to vote!

Don't forget to text VOTERINFO to 80123 to receive nonpartisan voting reminders!

Take Action

John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

The US House of Representatives re-introduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This essential legislation would restore the Voting Rights Act to its full power.

"Our freedom to vote is under attack," said LWV CEO Virginia Kase Solomón in response to the news. "It is the obligation of this new generation of lawmakers to respond to the call of the majority of Americans who support new legislation to protect the vote.

Stop voter discrimination and support the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act here!

The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

More than 100 years after some women gained the right to vote, people in the United States are still not constitutionally guaranteed equality on the basis of sex. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) will update the US Constitution to protect the equality of rights under the law regardless of sex. The ERA has met all ratification requirements, and now we are urging Congress to act to ensure that the ERA is published.

Tell Congress that equality belongs in the Constitution here!

Local Leagues in Action

LWV Collin County

Photo credit: League of Women Voters of Collin County Facebook page. On Sept. 16th, LWV Collin County hosted their fall fundraiser "The Art of Democracy" at the Art Centre of Plano. Read more here.

LWV Cy-Fair

Photo credit: LWV-Cy-Fai rFacebook page. LWV Cy-Fair participated in National Voter Registration Day by hosting voter registration at several locations including the Lone Star College Cy-Fair Library. Read more here.

LWV Comal Area

Photo credit: League of Women Voters of the Comal Area Facebook page. Past President Roxanna Deane, current President Jerrie Champlin, and Founding President Darlene Hicks at the Fall Membership Meeting. Read more here.

LWV Austin Area

Photo credit: League of Women Voters Austin Area Facebook page. LWV Austin Area, along with members of LULAC, registered voters at the ACC Fiestas Patrias Celebration on September 14th. Read more here.

LWV Montgomery County

Photo credit: League of Women Voters, Montgomery Co TX Facebook page. LWV Montgomery County celebrated National Voter Registration Day by registering voters at the Shadowbend & Branch Crossing YMCAs. Read more here.

LWV Corpus Christi Area

Photo credit: League of Women Voters Corpus Christi Area Facebook page. LWV Corpus Christi Area's Observer Corps visited the Nueces County Courthouse to check out the new voter machines, which will include backup paper ballots. Read more here.

Announcements

Vote Early Day is coming up on Oct. 26, 2023. Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement of businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans have the tools to vote early. Casting your vote early is a great way to avoid lines, dodge last-minute conflicts, and take control in your democratic participation! Learn about your options at VOTE411.org.

League of Women Voters of Texas
1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin Texas, 78701
(512) 472-1100
lwvtexas@lwvtexas.org
lwvtexas.org

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