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LWV Texas Public Statements

Required Action Against Violence in Texas
Published On 5/8/2023
It is unconscionable that we are mourning the victims of yet another mass shooting, this time in Allen, Texas. It was just over a week ago that we mourned the victims of a mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas, and less than a year after we mourned the death of the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. In all three cases, the victims included children and the weapon was an assault rifle.
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Preemption of Local Authority is Out of Control
Published On 5/1/2023
Legislation currently in front of the Texas Legislature seeks to take over control from local governments and other vital local entities, including election administration. The League of Women Voters is alarmed at this proposed change as it threatens the trustworthy and transparent work of our local election officials.
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Protecting County Elections
Published On 2/20/2023
The League of Women Voters of Texas issued a joint statement with the League of Women Voters of Houston in response to calls to redo the 2022 Harris County elections and the legislative bills filed to allow the State to remove and replace local County Election Administrators.
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The League’s Statement about the Busing of People Seeking Asylum
Published On 1/2/2023
The League of Women Voters of Texas condemns Governor Abbott’s busing documented immigrant asylum seekers to Washington DC, New York, Chicago, and other cities without warning or coordination with local and state officials, or aid organizations in those cities.
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Voting Rights Groups Ask U.S. DOJ to Guard Against Unauthorized Ballot Access in Texas
Published On 11/16/2022
The League of Women Voters of Texas and the Southern Coalition for Social Justice called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to publicly assert Texas election officials’ duty to maintain the proper voting ballot chain of custody as required by federal law, and to step in swiftly if those duties are not upheld.
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The League’s County Election Website Review Finds Fewer Counties With Outstanding Websites
Published On 11/16/2022
The League of Women Voters of Texas completed its ninth review of county election websites and commends the 35 websites rated as “outstanding” and the 32 websites rated as “very good” We offer congratulations to these counties and celebrate all counties, large and small, which meet the needs of their voters.
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A Child’s Life Outweighs Anyone’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Published On 5/25/2022
It is hard to find the words to respond to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and 2 adults. The shooter bought one of the AR-15 style assault guns on May 17 (the day after he turned 18) from a licensed federal firearms dealer.
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SCOTUS Draft Decision Overruling Roe v. Wade
Published On 5/3/2022
On May 2, 2022, Politico published a leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court indicating the Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that found that women have a constitutional right to abortion. The proposed 98 page opinion authored by Justice Alito can be found at https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473. Five Justices, including Alito are shown as joining in the decision.

This opinion is not final, and it is expected that the official decision will be issued towards the end of the Court’s term in late June. In the meantime, abortion is still legal.
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Early Voting for Local Elections and the Special Constitutional Amendment Election Starts April 25!
Published On 4/22/2022
Austin, TX - Early voting for the 2022 Local and Special Constitutional Amendment Election begins Monday, April 25th and lasts through Tuesday, May 3rd. Election Day is May 7th, which is also the last day for Vote by Mail ballots to be received at election offices.
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One in Eight Vote by Mail Ballots not Counted in the Primary Election
Published On 4/7/2022
When the statewide rejection rate of ballots by mail is 12.4%, up from 1% in the 2020 election, there is something seriously wrong with our democracy. Just under 25,000 or one in eight vote by mail ballots were not counted in the primary election. This is the direct result of the anti-voter bill SB1 pushed through the Texas legislature and signed by the governor. It is appalling that our legislators choose to avoid their responsibility to the voters of Texas by not examining this high Vote By Mail rejection rate in the interim charges.
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LWVTX Submits Testimony for the Record to Subcommittee on Elections
Published On 3/17/2022
The US House Administration committee’s subcommittee on Elections held a hearing on Thursday March 17 about Voting in America: “Ensuring Free and Fair Access to the Ballot in Texas. The LWVTX submitted a statement for the record to the committee which included stories directly from Texas voters and the issues they faced in the recent primary following the enactment of SB1, the new law governing TX elections
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Statement on the Resignation of Isabel Longoria, Harris County Election Administrator.
Published On 3/8/2022
We applaud the professionalism that the Harris County Election Administrator, Isabel Longoria, and her staff demonstrated during this very complicated and confusing election. That these challenges led to Ms. Longoria's resignation is unfortunate.
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Texas County Election Website Review Report
Published On 3/8/2022
The League of Women Voters of Texas conducted its eighth review of all 254 Texas county election websites in February 2022 in preparation for the March 2022 Primary Election.
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Regarding the March 1 Primary Election
Published On 3/2/2022
Texas held the first 2022 primary election in the nation under the additional stress of a new, massive election bill, Senate Bill 1, which created even more challenges for voters in Texas
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LWV Texas Voters Guide Policies
Published On 2/18/2022
LWV Texas Voters Guide Policies

Through our Voters Guide, the League seeks to educate voters about candidates and elections. For the 2022 Primary Election, we reached out to all candidates who are opposed in their races. Our policies regarding candidate responses are as follows:

Candidate replies are printed without editing or verification.
References to opponents or specific persons are not allowed.
In place of an inappropriate response, the Voters Guide will state “Candidate’s response did not meet the criteria listed in this Voters Guide.”
Videos that do not comply are removed.
Candidates who do not respond to our questionnaire by the print deadline are listed with the notation “No response received.” Their information may be in VOTE411.org.
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What We Are Facing…
Published On 1/22/2022
One of the League’s favorite and most important endeavors is to register Texas voters. We have worked for years with state and local officials to register voters in high schools, colleges, on the street, and at naturalization ceremonies. We were recently told by the office of the Texas Secretary of State that the League needed to raise our own funds so that we have enough Texas state voter registration forms to register voters at naturalization ceremonies.
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Secretary Scott Must Comply with the Federal Law.
Published On 1/22/2022
Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas and Campaign Legal Center sent a letter to Texas Secretary of State John Scott in response to his office’s practice of severely limiting voter registration forms provided to voter registration organizations in the state — in violation of the National Voter Registration Act. The letter notifies Scott of the League’s intent to sue if the state does not provide the needed registration forms to the League and other voter registration organizations. Texas does not provide an online registration option for new voters.
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Review Process for Canceling Voter Registration of Potential Non-citizens
Published On 1/4/2022
The League of Women Voters of Texas urges the Secretary of State to review the process by which people are identified as potential non-US citizens before more letters are sent out to prevent mass disenfranchisement.
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Preparing Voters for the March 1st Primary Election
Published On 1/4/2022
Deadlines to Vote in the March Primary Election are approaching! The League of Women Voters of Texas provides information on new voting processes.
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Upcoming Webinar: The Impact of New Election Laws on Voters with Disabilities and Voters Over 65
Published On 12/13/2021
On Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at noon, the League of Women Voters of Texas will join The Arc of Texas, Disability Rights Texas, and REV UP Texas to present a free one-hour webinar to review the new election laws enacted by the 87th Texas Legislature. The presenters will focus on changes to vote by mail, curbside voting and giving assistance to voters. The goal of this webinar is to lessen the impact of election law changes felt by voters with disabilities and those over 65.
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LWV Responds to SCOTUS Decision on Texas Abortion Law
Published On 12/10/2021
Today the US Supreme Court ruled in Whole Women's Health v. Jackson that abortion providers have the right to challenge a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks and deputizing private citizens to carry out the law.
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Tips for Voters! New Election Law
Published On 12/3/2021
Share tips to Help Voters with the New Election Laws which provides a short explanation of the new 2021 election laws.Voter education impacts voter turnout! Together we can motivate and encourage Texans to vote in every election.
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LWV OF TEXAS JOINS PARTNERS TO FILE FEDERAL REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT
Published On 11/17/2021
League of Women Voters of Texas, joined partners of Fair Maps Texas Action Committee and other individuals, in filinga federal lawsuit, Fair Maps Texas Action Committee v. Abbott.

This lawsuit challenges new Texas state legislative and Congressional district plans as unconstitutional racial gerrymanders violating both the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. The suit details an inadequate redistricting process lacking transparency, which led to discriminatory voting maps that dilute the political power of communities of color, particularly Black, Latino, and Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters.
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LWVTX' Statement on Governor Abbott’s appointment of John Scott as Secretary of State
Published On 10/22/2021
League of Women Voters of Texas’ Statement on Governor Abbott’s appointment of John Scott as Secretary of State.

The League of Women Voters of Texas welcomes the appointment by Governor Abbott of John Scott as interim Secretary of State, the Chief Election Officer for Texas.
One of the important duties of the Secretary of State’s job as Chief Election Officer is in assisting county election officials to run elections safely and securely in all 254 counties and ensuring all eligible Texans have the opportunity to vote. We look forward to continuing our good working relationship with the Secretary of State’s office.
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League Commends Federal Judge for Blocking Texas Abortion Law
Published On 10/7/2021
LWVUS and LWVTX issued the following joint statement in response to the federal judge decision to block SB 8, the Texas bill banning any abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.

“We commend the federal judge's intervention to temporarily block this bill that denies essential healthcare. This decision is a victory for women and all people in Texas who may become pregnant.”
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National Voter Registration Day
Published On 9/28/2021
Austin, TX - National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Volunteers and organizations from all over the country, including Leagues across Texas, will “hit the streets” in a single day of coordinated activities to reach tens of thousands of voters. To find a way to get involved, go to LWVTexas/League Finder and discover how to join the fun with your local League!
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LWV Texas: 2020 Elections Were Above Reproach, No Need for Partisan Review
Published On 9/24/2021
AUSTIN--The League of Women Voters of Texas president, Grace Chimene, issued the following statement in response to the Texas Secretary of State ordering needless and partisan election reviews of the 2020 election in 4 Texas counties.

“Our 2020 election was above reproach. During recent legislative committee hearings on election bills, the Secretary of State’s office testified that the November 2020 election was smooth and secure. Yesterday, former president Trump demanded that Governor Abbott include more partisan election reviews on the agenda for the third special session. Shortly thereafter, the acting Secretary of State announced they are conducting a review of the 2020 election in 4 counties in Texas. The partisan call for election reviews is needless and a waste of time for our hard-working elections officials.
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TEXANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST UNJUST GERRYMANDERING AT START OF REDISTRICTING SPECIAL SESSION
Published On 9/20/2021
Fair Maps Texas will be hosting a virtual press event as the 87th (3) Special Legislative Session gavels in on Monday. The press conference will feature a diverse group of Texans from across the State who have been impacted by our current gerrymandered maps, those who are not usually included at the table when maps are being drawn. These Texans will be speaking on the need for a fair and open districting process, one that fully considers the vital input of communities most impacted. These Texans are calling for better representation, for it’s the same legislators that were elected under our heavily gerrymandered maps that are passing regressive policies that are hurting all people, especially poor and low-wealth Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian people.
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LWV Texas Statement on the Impact of SB1 on Texas Elections
Published On 9/8/2021
During the last election cycle, Texans all over the state benefited from more voting opportunities, such as expansion of early voting, extended hours at the polling places, and more options to return vote-by-mail ballots. Texans want measures that that make elections safe and accessible. With the enactment of SB 1, these measures are now prohibited. SB 1 adds to the already overwhelming and complicated Texas election laws by using broad and confusing language, creating barriers to voting, and adding criminal offenses.
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Texas Civic Groups File Lawsuit Against State of Texas Over Anti-Voter Bill, SB1
Published On 9/3/2021
Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas and partner civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas, challenging Senate Bill 1, an omnibus anti-voter bill expected to be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.
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League of Women Voters Response to SCOTUS Failure to Block Texas Abortion Law
Published On 9/1/2021
Last night, the US Supreme Court declined to rule on a Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and those who aid a person in obtaining an abortion. League of Women Voters of the United States Board President Dr. Deborah Ann Turner and League of Women Voters of Texas President Grace Chimene issued the following joint statement in response...
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League of Women Voters of Texas Statement on Passage of Texas Election Bill
Published On 9/1/2021
The League of Women Voters of Texas president, Grace Chimene, issued the following statement in response to the Texas Legislature enacting the comprehensive election bill SB1.
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Happy Women's Equality Day!
Published On 8/26/2021
"On this day the League of Women Voters of Texas celebrates advancements made towards achieving full political, economic, and social equality. It is a celebration of the trailblazers, visionaries, and suffragists who have worked towards equal rights for all. . ."
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Texas Voters Win as Motor Voter Lawsuit is Settled
Published On 7/29/2021
After more than five years of court battles between Texas voters, represented by the Texas Civil Rights Project and Waters & Kraus, LLP, and the state of Texas, a settlement has been reached in litigation against the state of Texas for violation of the National Voter Registration Act, commonly known as the ‘motor voter’ law.
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The League Calls for Adoption of Rules to Further Regulate the Role of Money in Judicial Elections
Published On 7/28/2021
The League of Women Voters of Texas has long supported the nonpartisan selection of Texas judges at the appellate and Supreme Court levels. When judicial candidates must raise money to compete in our current partisan election system, the appearance of that money influencing their decision-making is hard to shake.
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Gov. Abbott’s Attacks on Texas’ Checks and Balances Will Not Go Unchecked
Published On 7/16/2021
Angry at his party’s failure to pass a sweeping anti-voter law, last month Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a new state budget that defunds the entire state legislature. The move endangers our democracy, undermines the will of Texans, and attacks the constitutional checks and balances on which our government depends.
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League of Women Voters of Texas Statement on Failed Quorum in Special Session
Published On 7/12/2021
The League of Women Voters of Texas president, Grace Chimene, issued the following statement in response to the failed legislative process that drove some legislators to leave Texas today.
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League of Women Voters Files Amicus Brief Challenging Abbott's Defunding the Legislature
Published On 7/6/2021
To highlight the impact of Governor Abbott's veto of the legislative budget, the League of Women Voters of Texas filed an amicus curiae in In Re Chris Turner, et al. asking the Texas Supreme Court to void the Governor’s veto.
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How Long Will We Have Free and Fair Elections?
Published On 7/2/2021
This July 4th weekend, I want to celebrate this country that I hold dear: the United States of America; the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yet, given recent events, I pause to consider: how united are we? Are we truly free? And are we brave enough?
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Governor Abbott's Defunding of the Legislature is Dangerous to our Democracy
Published On 6/20/2021
League of Women Voters President Grace Chimene issued the following statement in response to Governor Abbott’s defunding the Texas legislature by vetoing Article X of the new state budget.

Governor Abbott's defunding of the legislature is dangerous to our democracy and undermines the will of the people and the constitutional set of checks and balances upon which our government is built.
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League of Women Voters of Texas letter to Vice President Harris
Published On 6/16/2021
The League of Women Voters of Texas letter to Vice President Harris as presented by Senator Menendez on 6.16.21.

The League of Women Voters of Texas (LWVTX) is proud to stand with you and so many others
who are committed to ensuring that the right to vote remains a critical pillar in our democratic
form of government. Only when all voters have the opportunity to participate in a free, fair, and
accessible election can we truly call ourselves a representative democracy.
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LWV Texas statement on Mass shooting in Austin 6.12.21
Published On 6/12/2021
Texans are sick and tired of mass shootings in our state. Loosening restrictions on guns is not the answer to gun violence!
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LWV Texas statement in response to Governor Abbott’s remarks about state legislature funding
Published On 6/1/2021
League of Women Voters President Grace Chimene issued the following statement in response to Governor Abbott’s remarks about state legislature funding.
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Anti-Voter Elections Legislation Stalls in the House The League of Women Voters of Texas Responds
Published On 5/31/2021
Time ran out on the Texas House floor last night due to a lack of quorum! At the end of the session, we need to celebrate and give credit to the many voting rights heroes who fought against this anti-voter legislation!
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Texas Voters Have Lost Today!
Published On 5/3/2021
League of Women Voters of Texas president Grace Chimene issued the following statement in response to the passage of SB 7 in the Texas House of Representatives: "For democracy to work for all of us, it must include us all...
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Texas Needs an Action Plan for Climate Change
Published On 2/18/2021
As millions of Texans are without power and water due to continuing severe weather conditions, the League of Women Voters of Texas calls on the Texas Legislature
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League of Women Voters of the United States Calls for Immediate Removal of President Donald Trump
Published On 1/11/2021
LWVUS's call to action is an unprecedented decision for our organization.
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League of Women Voters Condemns Domestic Terrorist Attack on the U.S. Capitol
Published On 1/7/2021
January 7, 2021 - In light of the domestic terrorist attack at the Capitol of the United States yesterday, the League of Women Voters of Texas President Grace Chimene has issued the following statement:
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Celebrate Texas Counties with Outstanding Election Websites
Published On 12/18/2020
The League of Women Voters of Texas recently published the 2020 Texas General County Election Website Review, which was conducted to assess how each county prepared for the November 2020 General Election.
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LWV Texas Opposes Attempt to Reverse Election Results in Other States
Published On 12/15/2020
Encouraging all eligible voters to participate in our elections and respecting the results should be the intention of all politicians. Unfortunately, that is not the case in Texas.
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Judge’s Ruling Protects 127,000 Harris County, Texas, Votes Cast by Drive-Thru Polling
Published On 11/16/2020
HOUSTON—Today, a federal judge ruled that votes cast by drive-thru polling in Harris County, Texas, will not be invalidated after a challenge to the state’s election plan. The League of Women Voters of Texas joined the case as intervenors along with the ACLU of Texas.
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LWV Intervenes to Protect More Than 120,000 Voters in Texas Drive-Thru Polling
Published On 11/2/2020
Late Sunday the League of Women Voters of Texas joined ACLU Texas to file a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit aimed at invalidating more than 120,000 drive-thru votes cast for Tuesday’s election. The League’s motion aims to ensure that all voters who utilized drive-thru polling sites to vote have their voices heard and their ballots counted.
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California Lawsuit Blocking President’s Order Excluding Undocumented Individuals from Census Heads t
Published On 10/13/2020
SAN FRANCISCO —Late Thursday, a federal judge ruled in City of San Jose, California v. Trump that the president’s executive order to block undocumented individuals from being counted in the U.S. Census is unconstitutional.
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Federal Appeals Court Reverses Decision Establishing Ballot Cure Process in LWV of Texas Case
Published On 10/12/2020
NEW ORLEANS, LA—Today, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a stay in Richardson v. Texas Secretary of State, which denies voters a timely opportunity to cure their mail ballot in the 2020 general election. The decision reverses a September US District Court ruling that had required the State to notify voters within a day of their ballot being rejected due to a signature match issue and give them an opportunity to fix the mistake.
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League of Women Voters of Texas & LULAC Sue Governor Abbott Over Latest Voting Proclamation
Published On 10/6/2020
AUSTIN, TX—Today, the League of Women Voters of Texas, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), LULAC Texas, and two individual voters filed a lawsuit against Texas Governor Abbott in response to his proclamation that would dramatically limit options for Texas voters seeking to hand-deliver their completed absentee ballots for this fall’s election. In an order set to take effect today, Abbott announced on Thursday that each of Texas’s 254 counties can only have one absentee drop off location, regardless of geographic size or population.
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Texas Team Up! Campaign
Published On 10/2/2020
TEXAS (October 1, 2020) – Joining together for a cause that’s bigger than Texas, 10 professional sports teams and five civic organizations throughout the state have launched the #TexasTeamUp campaign to drive unprecedented voter turnout during the 2020 election cycle.
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League of Women Voters Responds to Ruling on Ballot Drop-off Locations
Published On 10/2/2020
A federal judge ruled on Friday evening that Governor Abbott’s Oct. 1 proclamation limiting drop-off locations for mail ballots to one per county discriminated against the elderly and disabled Texans, especially in more populous counties. These voters are most likely to request a mail-in ballot and to hand-deliver those ballots to ensure that their votes are counted.
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League of Women Voters of Texas Ramps Up Efforts on National Voter Registration Day
Published On 9/22/2020
Austin - On September 22, 2020, the League of Women Voters of Texas will celebrate National Voter Registration Day along with a massive cross-country effort to register voters well in advance of Election Day this November.
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Federal Judge Decision Establishes Ballot Notice and Cure Process in LWV of Texas Case
Published On 9/9/2020
SAN ANTONIO, TX—Today, US District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled that Texas must notify voters if their ballot has been marked for rejection due to a signature match issue and give them an opportunity to confirm their identity and save their ballot from rejection. The case, Richardson v. Texas Secretary of State, was brought last year by the League of Women Voters of Texas, Austin Justice Coalition, Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, MOVE Texas Civic Fund, and individual plaintiffs Dr. George Richardson and Rosalie Weisfeld.
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Win for Harris County Voters on Vote-by-Mail Court Ruling
Published On 9/1/2020
HOUSTON – A Harris County District court today rejected the Texas Attorney General’s injunction request, therefore allowing Harris County to send mail-in ballot applications to all registered voters along with a pamphlet explaining who is eligible to vote by mail.
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League of Women Voters of Texas File Brief in Support of Harris County Vote-by-Mail Application Effo
Published On 9/1/2020
HOUSTON – Representing the League of Women Voters of Texas, the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project filed a court brief supporting the Harris County Clerk’s decision to send vote-by-mail applications to every registered voter in Harris County, which is being challenged by the Texas Attorney General. In the brief, the organizations argue that sending out applications to vote by mail with instructions explaining who is eligible will educate and empower voters, especially those who do not have immediate or consistent access to online resources.
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League of Women Voters of Texas Nonpartisan Voters Guide Available Online
Published On 9/1/2020
Austin, TX - The League of Women Voters of Texas's Voters Guide is highly respected as the gold standard for nonpartisan, trusted voter information. The Texas League's Voters Guide is available now online in two formats -- as a printable document on www.LWVTexas.org and on VOTE411.org, the League of Women Voters' interactive Voters Guide. The League of Women Voters has been a nonpartisan grassroots voter education organization for over 100 years. The League never supports or opposes any political party or candidate for elected office.
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League Of Women Voters of Texas & Texas Secretary Of State Celebrate Women's Equality Day 100 Year A
Published On 8/26/2020
AUSTIN - Texas Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs and Grace Chimene, President of the League of Women Voters of Texas (LWV), today commemorated the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment became law on August 26, 1920. Women's Equality Day is celebrated annually on August 26th in recognition of the efforts of those who fought and sacrificed to make its passage a reality.
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League of Women Voters Urges Texas Governor to Ensure Safety at Polls!
Published On 7/31/2020
During this pandemic, the League of Women Voters of Texas supports any action that will encourage voting and keep everyone safe at the polls. “We applaud Governor Abbott’s extension of early voting for the November 3rd General Election,” announced Texas League President Grace Chimene. The extension will allow early voters to cast their ballots from Tuesday, October 13, 2020, through Friday, October 30, 2020. Voters will also be able to plan their trips to the polls to avoid peak times and long lines.
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Improvements Needed on County Elections Websites Regarding Safe Voting!
Published On 7/31/2020
The League of Women Voters of Texas conducted its sixth survey of Texas county websites in July 2020. This review was narrow in scope, focusing the information counties are providing voters regarding the impact of COVID-19 on voting and elections. Thirty counties ranked "Outstanding" in this review. Reviews for each county are available.
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Face Masks Are Needed at the Polls!
Published On 7/10/2020
Austin - When Governor Abbott issued his requirement to wear face masks, he specifically exempted polling places. His statement on that issue: not having a mask should not impede a voter’s constitutional right to vote. "The League of Women Voters agrees!" said League president Grace Chimemen, "Every voter should be able to vote safely: if a voter does not have a mask, one should be provided when stepping into the polling place!"
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The Voters Guide is available now!
Published On 6/22/2020
The League of Women Voters Guide is available now!
The Texas Primary Runoff Election is July 14th - less than a month away!

Vote by mail ballots are arriving in mailboxes across Texas! Early voting starts next Monday, June 29th.
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Capitol Action Report

Capitol Action Report- 5/16/23
Published On 5/16/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 5/16/23
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Capitol Action Report- 5/9/23
Published On 5/9/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 5/9/23
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Capitol Action Report- 4/25/23
Published On 4/25/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 4/25/23
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Capitol Action Report- 4/18/23
Published On 4/18/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 3/28/23
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Capitol Action Report- 4/11/23
Published On 4/11/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 4/11/23
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Capitol Action Report- 3/28/23
Published On 3/28/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 3/28/23
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Capitol Action Report- 3/21/23
Published On 3/21/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 3/21/23
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Capitol Action Report- 3/14/23
Published On 3/15/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 3/14/23
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Capitol Action Report- 2/20/23
Published On 2/20/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 2/20/23
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Capitol Action Report- 1/31/23
Published On 1/31/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 1/31/23
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Capitol Action Report- 1/23/23
Published On 1/23/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 1/23/23
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Capitol Action Report- 1/17/23
Published On 1/17/2023
Capitol Action Report for the week of 1/17/23
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9.17.21 Capitol Action Report What's Happening at the Capitol
Published On 9/17/2021
The Third Texas Special Session Starts September 20th!

Read the blogs our issue chairs' blogs to keep up with the latest information:
Voting Rights and Election Law - Please note anti-voter bill SB1 doesn’t go into effect until December! LWVUS supports new US Senate voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act.
Redistricting - Public Input hearings are going on now!
Women’s Health Updates on the lawsuits & an informative video that explains an obgyn's perspective.
Equal Opportunity Updates soon on equality for children who are transgender.
Public Education - anti-Critical Race Theory bills.
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9.13.21 What's Happening at the Capitol - 3rd Special Session - Redistricting!
Published On 9/13/2021
Governor Abbot has called the 3rd Special Session of the 87th Legislature to begin Monday, Sept. 20. The main job will be redistricting for US Representative districts, Texas Senate and House districts, and State Board of Education districts based on the new census data.

However the governor has also added a few other items to the agenda, including:
• Bills to ban transgender students from participating in University Interscholastic League athletics. (Read our testimony against this bill from the 2nd special session).
• Bills to state whether a local government entity can mandate vaccines (we testified against the bill to ban mask mandates, which died in the last special session).
We will testify against this legislation based on our Equal Opportunity and State/Local Relations positions. Watch for Action Alerts!
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9.7.21 Capitol Action Report - Time to Testify for Redistricting in Texas!
Published On 9/7/2021
Your Texas legislators need to hear from you about redistricting!
The Texas Legislature is about to embark on the 2021 Redistricting Cycle, and both the House and Senate Redistricting Committees have scheduled virtual public input hearings that will take place over the next two weeks.


Public comments at the Committee hearings will be used to assist the Legislature when it draws district boundaries. Speaking up about your community is critical to ensuring district lines are drawn to keep your community whole and grouped with nearby communities with similar interests. This ensures that your voice is heard by your elected leaders across all kinds of government decisions.
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9.1.21 Capitol Action Report SB 1 Passes - Your Actions Made it Better
Published On 9/1/2021
Governor Abbott demanded a major omnibus bill to restrict access to voting and elections before the regular session began January 12, 2021. It took the entire regular session (140 days), and almost two whole special sessions for it to arrive on his desk August 31.
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8.20.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 8/20/2021
Take Action! Your Online Testimony is Needed Now! After some Democratic House members returned on Thursday, the House now has a quorum. The House immediately scheduled hearings on the bills the Senate had passed earlier.
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8.16.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 8/16/2021
Special Session #2 - the League Explains All!
The COVID epidemic should be the main topic in the 2nd Special Session!
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7.26.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 7/26/2021
Status of the Special Session(s): The Senate committees continued to meet and vote out bills through July 16, but the House suspended all committee meetings due to the lack of a quorum. Most Democrats have gone to Washington, D.C. to work for the “For the People” voting rights act.
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7.12.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 7/12/2021
Take Action Now! Expecting a vote on HB 3 at anytime. Threats to voting rights are front and center in this special session. During the regular session, we helped stop the omnibus election bill in the House.
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7.9.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 7/9/2021
The Special Session Began Yesterday! Governor Abbot issued his proclamation setting the agenda for the first Special Session beginning July 8. It contains ten items, including elections, reforming the bail system, both of which did not pass the regular session, and funding for the Legislature, which he vetoed from the budget.
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7.2.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 7/2/2021
Protect the Freedom to Vote for Voters with Disabilities! We must protect safe and accessible elections for all! The voting legislation proposed during the regular session not only changed the definition of disability, but also added new requirements to mail-in ballots, made personal assistants liable for criminal offenses, and introduced new curbside voting procedures that would make it extremely difficult for people with disabilities to vote.
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6.30.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 6/30/2021
87th Texas Legislature Special Session Begins July 8! We will continue our Capitol Action Reports with Action Alerts during each special session to keep you informed and connected to needed action.
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5.31.21 SB 7 Stalls in the House! Capitol Action Report
Published On 5/31/2021
For lack of a quorum, time ran out on anti-voter SB 7 last night! The League of Women Voters of Texas partnered with local, state, and national organizations to provide support to legislators who understood the negative impact of this bill.
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5.25.21 Last Call at the Capitol! All Business Concludes May 30!
Published On 5/24/2021
This is the last full week of work for the Legislators. Most bills have had hearings, are on the Calendars, and voting continues. Wednesday, May 26, is a pivotal day when all bills must have had their third readings.
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5.17.21 Capitol Action Report League Principles are Under Assault
Published On 5/17/2021
We are almost at the end of a very difficult legislative session for the League.
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5.10.21 Capitol Action Report Fast & Furious
Published On 5/10/2021
There are only three weeks left in the 87th Legislative Session!
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4.26.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 4/26/2021
While Medicaid expansion was looking closer than ever, the House voted it down (68-80) in their budget vote on April 22, so we don't know what will happen to these bills. Our coalition partner Every Texan has put out out a summary/comparison
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4.19.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 4/19/2021
Thanks for Your Support! Our Take Action Alerts have been wildly successful. Over 62,000 emails from League members and supporters have been sent to members of the Texas Legislature!
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4.12.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 4/12/2021
We are halfway through the 87th Texas Legislature. We anticipate a few wins and, maybe, a few significant losses. We must keep the pressure on our legislators!
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3.29.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 3/29/2021
Give a shout-out to League members who testify at the Capitol!
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3.22.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 3/22/2021
The League at the Capitol, Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy
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3.15.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 3/15/2021
Lege Leaders Offer Solutions in Search of Problems Cinde Weatherby, Voting & Elections Issue Chair
Take Action on SB 7 today!
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3.8.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 3/8/2021
The League at the Capitol by Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy

The Aftermath of the Big Freeze!
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2.22.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 2/22/2021
The Big Freeze! Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy
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2.15.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 2/15/2021
Is This the Year Texas Will Expand Medicaid?
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2.8.21 News, Updates & Action
Published On 2/8/2021
The Governor's Priorities by Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy
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1.25.21 News, Updates & Action
Published On 1/25/2021
It is a long-standing League tradition for members to walk the halls of the Texas Capitol and talk with their Representatives and Senators about the League's priority issues at the beginning of each Texas Legislative session.
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1.18.21 Capitol Action Report
Published On 1/18/2021
The 87th Texas Legislative Session Begins!
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Action News

Action News- August 2023
Published On 8/1/2023
Action News! for August 2023
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Action News- July 2023
Published On 7/11/2023
Action News! for July 2023
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Action News- June 2023
Published On 6/6/2023
Action News! for June 2023
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Action News- May 2023
Published On 5/2/2023
Action News! for the month of May 2023
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Action News- April 2023
Published On 4/4/2023
Action News! for the month of April 2023
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Action News! March 2023
Published On 3/7/2023
LWV Texas monthly newsletter, Action News! for March 2023
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Action News! February 2023
Published On 2/7/2023
LWV Texas monthly newsletter, Action News! for February 2023
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Action News! January 2023
Published On 1/3/2023
LWV Texas monthly newsletter, Action News! for January 2023
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October Action News!
League Updates on: Voting rights and election law, redistricting, National Voter Registration Day, and more!
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August 2021 Action News!
Published On 8/3/2021
Support our American democracy by sharing your voting stories! Let's celebrate a democracy where we can change our political leaders in a peaceful manner through the process of voting.
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July 2021 Action News!
Published On 7/6/2021
Special Session Starts July 8!
Imagine America without a free and fair democracy.
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SB 7: What you need to do next! Action News 6.7.21
Published On 6/7/2021
What an exciting end to the 87th Legislative Session! Thank you so much for being with us every step of the way.
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May 2021 Action News
Published On 5/3/2021
Thank you for using the Texas League's Action Alerts to voice your concerns to your Texas Legislators about the issues that are important to you!

If you would like to keep up-to-date on these issues, sign up to receive Texas League newsletters! You may sign up below and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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Action News - Persist & Continue to Speak Up for Democracy! 4.5.21
Published On 4/5/2021
President's Message: Democracy is Good for Business!
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March 2021 Action News!
Published On 3/1/2021
President's Message - You Just Never Know
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February 2021 Action News!
Published On 2/1/2021
Great things are happening on the national front. There is positive movement on League priorities at the national level. There is already good news on health care with a special open enrollment period for the ACA and action on climate change. We are hopeful for the passage of much-needed voting reforms in HR 1, the For the People Act bill, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and fair redistricting with the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
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Action News! Getting Ready for the 87th Legislative Session
Published On 1/4/2021
The President's Message; A True Democracy
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December Action News. Let's Prepare for the 87th Texas Legislature!
Published On 12/7/2020
The Texas elections are over and now we move into our work in advocacy, supporting our positions, for the 87th Legislative session which opens January 12, 2021.
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November Action News! Waiting for an accurate count is good for a healthy democracy.
Published On 11/2/2020
11.2.2020 The large numbers of votes by mail means tallying the election results will obviously take longer than it has in the past.
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October Action News!
Published On 10/5/2020
I’m going to let you in on a secret on how I overcome my apprehension that our democracy is at risk. I am a retired pediatric nurse practitioner. When a child is sick, bleeding, or hurt, I review the history, do an examination, make an assessment and take action to support that child. I won’t stand by when I’m worried our democracy is in trouble and neither will you!
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September 2020 Action News!
Published On 9/7/2020
The election is almost here! And it is confusing! Be the person who knows the answers!

It is time for you to talk about voting and elections with everyone you know! This month I am talking with the media, communities of faith, sororities, educators, nonprofits, and many other organizations. I’m sharing the Leagues’ trusted voter information. And you can, too!
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August League Action News!
Published On 8/3/2020
For the last year, I have been looking forward to August 26, 2020, and the centennial commemoration of the 19th Amendment. I imagined parades of women dressed as suffragists marching with banners celebrating the suffrage heroines of the past we all know as well as the African American and Latina voting rights activists we are finally learning more about. Instead, I look on with respect at the new civil rights heroes and heroines of today who are leading the peaceful protests for basic human and civil rights, in Texas and across the country.
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July 2020 Action News! Face Masks Are Needed at the Polls!
Published On 7/6/2020
When Governor Abbott issued his requirement to wear face masks, he specifically exempted polling places. His statement on that issue: not having a mask should not impede a voter’s constitutional right to vote. We agree!
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June Action News! LWV Responds to Injustice and COVID 19 Lawsuit updates
Published On 6/1/2020
The League of Women Voters of Texas stands with the mourners and protesters across the the US (and around the world) who were horrified by the death of yet another African American at the hands of a police officer.
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Take Action Alerts

NEW Vote by Mail Action Alert! 6.30.21
Published On 6/30/2021
87th Texas Legislature Special Session Begins July 8! We will continue our Capitol Action Reports with Action Alerts during each special session to keep you informed and connected to needed action.
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Contact Gov Abbott today - demand a veto to permitless carry
Published On 6/12/2021
The Governor works for you! Contact Gov Abbott today - demand a veto to permitless carry.
LWV Texas Statement on Mass Shooting in Austin.
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TAKE ACTION!
Published On 3/17/2021
Take action with the League of Women Voters!
Due to the pandemic, there is limited access to our elected officials at the Texas Capitol. We need your help more than ever!
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LWV Texas in the News

Is Texas next up? Lawmakers clear the way for the state to leave voter data group ERIC
Published On 5/30/2023
Texas is on its way to being the latest — and largest — state to leave a bipartisan data sharing partnership that states across the country use to cross check their voter rolls.

Texas lawmakers on Monday gave final approval to Senate Bill 1070, which would seek to end the state's participation in the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott. Multiple GOP-led states have backed out of ERIC in response to conservative advocacy groups who have at times spread misinformation about the compact. Virginia on May 11 became the eighth state to announce its departure.
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The fight for voting rights: Has the US actually made progress when it comes to equity in voting?
Published On 5/27/2023
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Pamiel Gaskin remembers when the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law. She was just a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin and couldn't vote yet because the minimum age required to cast your ballot at the time was 21 years old.

Still, she spent a significant amount of time knocking on doors with her sorority sisters to encourage and help people register to vote. It was a passion she inherited from her family, who often did what they could to improve votership and break down barriers to the polls in their communities.

"Up until that time, if you were African American, you had to pay poll tax to vote, which is really like paying to vote. Poll tax was anywhere from $2 to $4. If my memory serves me correctly, a loaf of bread was about 27 cents at the time. So a poll tax of $2 was a lot to people who didn't make a lot of money, which were mostly African Americans and Hispanics," Gaskin said.
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LeBombard: Legislators, pass sensible gun laws that majority of Texans want and need
Published On 5/9/2023
It is unconscionable that we are mourning the victims of yet another mass shooting, this time in Allen, Texas. It was just over a week ago that we mourned the victims of a mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas, and less than a year after we mourned the death of the victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. In all three cases, the victims included children and the weapon was an assault rifle.
The response from our elected officials has been predictable: prayers for victims and calls to “harden” targets. Not good enough! People have the inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That does not include living in fear of going to a shopping mall, grocery store, school, or park. It is not reasonable to “harden” all the places where we live, work, and play. A child’s life, everyone’s life, outweighs anyone’s right to own military-style weapons.
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Letters to the Editor — There's help out there
Published On 4/17/2023
There’s help out there
Re: “I really do exist ... !” by Roland D. Freeman, Thursday Letters.

Mr. Freeman, it sounds like you are having trouble getting a mail-in ballot. Sir, you have my sympathies! The obstacles you are facing are part of the Texas secretary of state’s efforts to ensure that each voter is indeed who they represent themselves to be.

My suggestion is to call the Dallas County Elections Department and ask for assistance filling out the form on lemon-yellow paper sent to you. If you saved the voter registration card you received in January, have it handy when you call. It has your Voter Unique Identifier and precinct number.

If you know the number of the driver’s license you surrendered that may help, too. The staff at Dallas County elections knows the process of voting can be very complicated and are there to help you!

Please know if you have surrendered your driver’s license and been given an alternate ID, there is a lag in the data being processed.
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Help the League of Women Voters
Published On 4/16/2023
We are writing today to ask you to partner with us in our efforts.

The League of Women Voters of Cooke County has been active in recent years to help register and educate the voters of our county! We have held a variety of events, including candidate forums with KGAF Radio, voter registration booths at numerous local events, participated in local Christmas parades, distributed the LWV Nonpartisan Voters Guide, etc. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, we had a movie night at the Gainesville Farmer’s Market where we showed “Iron Jawed Angels,” a Hillary Swank movie depicting the suffragists fight for the right to vote for women.

A large portion of our expenses goes to printing the League of Women Voters of Texas Nonpartisan Voters Guide, which is a small newspaper type publication. We hope that you are familiar with this guide! It gives full information about many aspects of voting for each election
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Amarillo League of Women Voters holds forums for city, school candidates
Published On 4/16/2023
The Amarillo League of Women Voters (LWV) held its second of two candidate forums Thursday at Amarillo College featuring candidates for the Amarillo Independent School District board, Amarillo College Board of Regents, city council and mayoral races. There was also a candidate for the Highland Park school board.

Tuesday night, LWV held a forum at the Cole Community Center featuring candidates for the Canyon Independent School Board.

Sonya Letson, president of the Amarillo League of Women Voters, spoke about the importance of having these forums to inform the voters of the city about their candidates.

“We have had these types of forums for 73 years; we started here in 1950,” Letson said. “We provide these forums so that the voters get to meet the candidates and be able to see them answer questions about issues in their own voice.”

Letson said she was very pleased with the turnout of LWV's two candidate forums, with standing room only at both events. In the interest of time,
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Texas House votes to permanently stay on daylight saving time. But Congress won't allow it — yet
Published On 4/16/2023
The Texas House has taken sides in one of America’s most polarizing debates — whether to continue changing clocks twice a year, ditch daylight saving time altogether or stick with later daylight permanently.

The representatives’ overwhelming verdict: Stay on daylight saving time moving forward.

The chamber voted 138-5 on Wednesday to approve House Bill 1422, from Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe.

“The antiquated practice of ‘springing forward’ and ‘falling back’ — changing our clocks twice a year — is frustrating to many Texans,” Metcalf said ahead of a vote that gave the bill initial approval on Tuesday. “I believe we should stick to a time without switching twice a year.”

Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, asked if the House could vote on who likes which variation of time before voting on the bill, which drew a couple of chuckles. That vote did not occur.
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Amarillo League of Women Voters presenting Community Status Report
Published On 3/16/2023
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The Amarillo League of Women Voters will be presenting the Untied Way of Amarillo and Canyon’s Community Status Report.

The league will be welcoming LWV Board Member, Adam Leathers who is presenting the findings of the United Way report.

The Community Status Report is an annual publication that lays out Amarillo and Canyon’s Successes and challenges in terms of Educations, Income, Health, and Vulnerable Populations.

The event will be on Saturday March 18, with refreshments starting at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting at 10 a.m., at the Northwest Public Library.

Local elections will be held May 6 for Amarillo City Council positions, four area school boards and Amarillo College trustees.

If your organization, business, nonprofit, or church is interested in having the Amarillo League of Women Voters register your employees or members to vote, you can contact them at (806) 337-2148 or email them at amarillolwv@gmail.com.
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Mayor Dockery Honored By League Of Women Voters
Published On 3/16/2023
Jan Dockery, Mayor-City of La Grange was one of the Women Mayors who were recognized by League of Women Voters of South Central Texas during their Women Making History celebration on March 12 in Schulenburg. Pictured from left are Kathy Weishuhn-City Council, Jan Dockery-Mayor of La Grange, Janet Bayer-Secretary, City of La Grange, and Deokie Ramlochan-Ramjohn-Chair of the La Grange Area Chamber of Commerce.
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East Texas senator authors bill to make illegal voting a felony again
Published On 3/15/2023
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — The Texas Senate voted 19-12 to send Senate Bill 2 to the House of Representatives, making illegal voting a felony on Tuesday. Senator Bryan Hughes, of East Texas, authored the bill after an amendment in 2021’s Senate Bill 1 lowered the felony to a Class A misdemeanor.

“This type of voter fraud this bill is targeting is exceedingly rare. It hardly ever happens, “said Katie Owens with voter services at The League of Women Voters in Tyler.

Texas Senator Bryan Hughes, who authored the bill, said that the last session wasn’t debated, overlooked and needed attention.

“To lower the penalty of an offense sends the message that this offense is less serious and we do not want to send that message,” said Hughes.

Owens believes that raising the penalty will only discourage voters.
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Women Making History event set here March 12
Published On 3/7/2023
The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas will host a celebration of Women Making History from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 12 at Sengelmann Hall. This event will recognize the women currently serving their South Central Texas towns as mayors. The League of Women Voters of South Central Texas serves Colorado, DeWitt, Fayette, Gonzales and Lavaca counties. In these counties, eight towns currently
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League Of Women Voters To Conduct Youth Voter Education And Registration Project
Published On 3/5/2023
This spring, the League of Women Voters of Hays County is reaching out to eligible youth voters in Hays County between 18 and 25 years of age to register to vote and to learn more about the importance and process of voting.

As part of the project, the League is offering high schools, colleges and other organizations working with the youth a short presentation on the process of voting followed by distribution of voter registration cards.

Certified Volunteer Deputy Registrars will then deliver the completed registration cards to the Hays County Elections office. By law, high schools are required to offer voter registration opportunities to their students twice a year. League members said they can tailor the program to best meet each school’s or organization’s needs and schedule and hope this program will be of particular value to all the high schools across the county.
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'March for the Vote' continues to fight for advocacy and education
Published On 3/5/2023
"This takeaway is a celebration, but it's also a reminder that we can't sit back," said Kathryn Oler, President of the League of Women Voters - Corpus Christi.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The 'March for the Vote' at Water's Edge Park celebrated women's right to vote and efforts made towards equality.

In recent months political concerns like reproductive rights have been a hot topic.

Kathryn Oler is the President of the League of Women Voters - Corpus Christi. She spoke with 3NEWS and said the sacrifices women made to have the right to vote has not been forgotten.
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Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi starts off Women's History Month with panel
Published On 3/3/2023
Female leaders in business, education and non-profit organizations gathered Wednesday evening at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to share their experiences with students and the university community.

They spoke of determination in the face of sexism and injustice, and shared how they have learned to communicate and lead others, leaning on the support of the women who came before them and touched their lives.

President of the Corpus Christi American Federation of Teachers Nancy Vera, attorney and Corpus Christi Black Chamber of Commerce President Coretta Gram, Nueces County Chief Public Defender Danice Obregon, university Dean of Students Lisa Perez and The Purple Door Director Frances Wilson participated, fielding questions submitted by students.
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Voting in Texas through the decades: How women have fought for their rights
Published On 3/1/2023
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — There are few things that connect most Americans — we all pay taxes, and we all have a civic duty to participate in democracy.

However, voting hasn’t always and still isn’t the most accessible for some people.

“The way I kind stay mentally healthy while doing this work, is constantly being reminded of the work that came before me and the work that's going to come after me,“ said Kristina Samuel, senior biology major, and President of MOVE Texas at Texas A&M.

After nearly a century of protesting and fighting for their rights, women convinced lawmakers at the time to ratify the 19th Amendment.

Texas was the first southern state to acknowledge the change.

“Texas was kind of progressive in a way,” admitted Elaine Wiant, the treasurer at The Texas League of Women Voters.

Taking a look back at the roaring ‘20s, it was a colorful time full of fancy outfits, feathers and flappers.
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Citizenship Information Session to be held at Doyle Community Center
Published On 2/28/2023
A free information session on how to become a citizen of the United States will be conducted at the Doyle Community Center, 110 West Barnett Street in Kerrville, on Saturday, March 11 from 9-11 a.m. A staff team from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in San Antonio will be conducting the meeting and will be available to answer questions. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters.

Citizenship classes are taught at the Doyle Center by volunteers using curriculum and materials prepared for individuals to learn about what is called the naturalization process, which involves an interview and a test. For additional information regarding classes, call (830) 496-6963.
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Texas Republicans want to let the state replace local election administrators
Published On 2/28/2023
House and Senate bills filed by Republican lawmakers in response to Harris County’s mismanagement of its recent elections could give the Texas secretary of state the authority to step in, suspend county election administrators when a complaint is filed and appoint a replacement administrator.

Election administration experts told Votebeat the legislation was an overreaction to the desire to hold Harris County accountable for years of election mismanagement, and would disrupt the state’s ability to help county election offices improve and address systemic problems.

If passed, the secretary of state’s office would change from being a guide and resource for election workers to being an auditor that can investigate and fire them. Some election officials are concerned this change could prevent local election workers from asking questions or seeking help from the office for fear of being reprimanded.
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Commentary: We must empower voters of tomorrow
Published On 1/11/2023
A recent post-election survey by the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University revealed young people 18-29 were worried about issues but felt neglected, faced barriers to voting and lacked information.
It found “only about half of young people were contacted by any campaign or organization about the 2022 election, and 1 in 5 youth said they didn’t have enough information to vote.”
Safeguarding democracy entails addressing the concerns and needs of this demographic. In 1971, the 26th Amendment granted the right to vote to 11.5 million people 18 to 20.
Young people are one of the largest untapped voting blocs in America. “All young Americans should be informed and responsibly involved in politics and civic life, and engaging the next generation is the best long-term solution to problems of polarization, incivility, and dysfunction in national politics,” said Peter Levine, director of CIRCLE.
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Why Texas doesn't have online voter registration
Published On 12/13/2022
For the vast majority of Americans, registering to vote is easier than ordering food delivery from a phone app.

Not so in Texas, where, unlike 42 states and Washington, D.C., not all residents are offered the convenience. Instead, Texans must obtain a paper copy of the application and mail it in, happen across voter registrars who get them signed up, or are lucky enough to be registered by volunteers with the League of Women Voters at a naturalization ceremony when they become new U.S. citizens.

There is one exception: a federal judge in 2020 forced Texas to allow online voter registration when residents renew or update their driver licenses using the Texas Department of Public Safety website, after ruling the state was violating federal law. In the first year and a half of the program, 1.5 million residents used that option, according to state data.
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Critics are pouncing on Harris County’s election fumbles, real and concocted, to fuel legal challeng
Published On 12/10/2022
Harris County officials have yet to explain the full cause of the ballot paper shortages, long lines, and voting machine problems on Election Day, and experts say the lack of information is fueling a bipartisan surge of criticism — both valid and baseless. At least two losing Republican candidates, citing the problems, have already filed legal challenges to void the Nov. 8 election and order a new one, and lawyers are warning election officials to expect more.

The latest challenge came Wednesday from Erin Lunceford, a former judge and 189th District Court Republican candidate who lost her Harris County race to Democrat Tamika Craft by a 0.26% margin, around 2,000 votes. During a Harris County GOP news conference to announce the election contest, Lunceford’s lawyer, Houston-based Andy Taylor, said he wanted to use the lawsuit to send a message to Harris County election administrator Clifford Tatum.
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Critics are pouncing on Texas county's election fumbles — real and concocted — to fuel legal challen
Published On 12/10/2022
Harris County officials have yet to explain the full cause of the ballot paper shortages, long lines, and voting machine problems on Election Day, and experts say the lack of information is fueling a bipartisan surge of criticism — both valid and baseless. At least two losing Republican candidates, citing the problems, have already filed legal challenges to void the Nov. 8 election and order a new one, and lawyers are warning election officials to expect more.
The latest challenge came Wednesday from Erin Lunceford, a former judge and 189th District Court Republican candidate who lost her Harris County race to Democrat Tamika Craft by a 0.26% margin, around 2,000 votes. During a Harris County GOP news conference to announce the election contest, Lunceford’s lawyer, Houston-based Andy Taylor, said he wanted to use the lawsuit to send a message to Harris County election administrator Clifford Tatum.
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Critics are pouncing on Harris County’s election fumbles, real and concocted, to fuel legal challeng
Published On 12/9/2022
Harris County officials have yet to explain the full cause of the ballot paper shortages, long lines and voting machine problems on Election Day, and experts say the lack of information is fueling a bipartisan surge of criticism — both valid and baseless. At least two losing Republican candidates, citing the problems, have already filed legal challenges to void the Nov. 8 election and order a new one, and lawyers are warning election officials to expect more.

The latest challenge came Wednesday from Erin Lunceford, a former judge and 189th District Court Republican candidate who lost her Harris County race to Democrat Tamika Craft by a 0.26% margin, around 2,000 votes. During a Harris County GOP news conference to announce the election contest, Lunceford’s lawyer, Houston-based Andy Taylor, said he wanted to use the lawsuit to send a message to Harris County elections administrator Clifford Tatum.
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Equity Action: Canvassers collecting signatures on ‘fraud’ police oversight petition
Published On 12/1/2022
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Equity Action claims video and audio recordings show canvassers claiming to work for Equity Action asking for signatures on a petition.

“There are people circulating a petition in our community collecting signatures, and they’re doing so falsely in our name,” said Equity Action Board President Chris Harris, adding he believes these canvassers are trying to tap into early voting crowds.

Harris said the new petition is titled “Austin Police Oversight Act.”
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WT Students have mixed feelings about voting
Published On 11/30/2022
Early voting started on Oct. 24 and Texas voters are heading out to the polls. However, upon speaking to many West Texas A&M University students, they have different thoughts and opinions about voting. While some students are adamant about voting and expressing their voice, others choose to not vote at all.

“If you are registered to vote, you should vote in every election. This is because the only way your voice is heard is when you vote,” said Sonya Letson, president of League of Women Voters Amarillo. “Politicians pay attention to the people who vote and your voices if you’re not voting are not being heard. Voting is how you express your opinion about how things should go.”

With voting comes changes. As the newest members of our democracy, college students have the power to choose and vote for future policies.

“Elections are vitally important especially for people in my generation to express our voices,” said Tucker Gattis, senior agriculture major.
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Colorado, Fayette counties election websites get high marks
Published On 11/23/2022
Colorado and Fayette counties’ election websites have received an “outstanding” designation from the League of Women Voters of Texas.

According to a prepared release, “Colorado and Fayette counties are two of only 25 of Texas’ 254 counties to earn an ‘Outstanding’ grade on their county election websites. Congratulations to county elections administrators Rebekah La-Course (Colorado County) and Terri Hefner (Fayette County) for this noteworthy achievement.”

Officials said before each election, the league recruits a team of volunteers to review all the voting-related websites across Texas’ counties.

Volunteers grade each website based on best practices.

For more, visit https://www. lwvtexas.org
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Answering your questions: KPRC 2 teams up with League of Women Voters for Election Day phone bank
Published On 11/8/2022
HOUSTON – KPRC 2 teamed up with the League of Women Voters to answer questions on Election Day, discussing everything you needed to know before heading to the polls. https://www.lwv.org/

Volunteers handled the phone banks set up in our studios, taking calls from viewers.

KPRC 2′s Zach Lashway spoke to Dr. Annie Johnson Benifield, president of the League of Women Voters, throughout our morning and afternoon broadcasts.

See recaps of the conversations and the volunteers in action.

Are you having any issues while trying to cast a ballot? Give us a call during our Election Day phone bank in collaboration with the League of Women Voters Houston and Telemundo Houston at (713) 778-8920 (English) or (713) 778-8930 (Spanish).

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you registered to vote by Oct. 11 and meet all other requirements, you have a right to cast a ballot as long as you’re in line at a polling location by 7 p.m.
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The League of Women Voters has an Election Day message
Published On 11/8/2022
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - The League of Women Voters of Wichita Falls wanted to emphasize the importance of voting.

Betty Richie, President of the League of Women Voters, said that every vote counts especially in midterms. Midterms are known to be less popular among voters, but Wichita County has plenty of important issues on the ballot.

You can find polling locations here.
https://www.newschannel6now.com/2022/11/07/where-vote-november-2022-election/
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League of Women Voters hosts phone bank at KPRC 2 for Election Day
Published On 11/8/2022
Video: League of Women Voters hosts phone bank at KPRC 2 for Election Day
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League of Women Voters joins KPRC 2 for Election Phone Bank
Published On 11/8/2022
Video: League of Women Voters joins KPRC 2 for Election Phone Bank
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Houston election updates: Seniors afraid to vote at Independence Heights, advocates say
Published On 11/8/2022
Seniors in Independence Heights deal with uncertainty

10:30 a.m.: Lack of visible campaign signs and unfamiliar poll workers are deterring senior citizens from voting at Independence Heights, Tanya Debose, a local community advocate, said.

"People in our community are used to seeing campaign signs," Debose said. "The people who are working the polls are not from the community. Our senior citizens are feeling very afraid this may not be the poll that they can vote at anymore."

Something as simple as not having campaign signs visible at polling locations can be intimidating to people who are used to being able to go to polls at their grandchildren's schools.

Rev. Jerome Nickerson said he's "angry and frustrated" about what's going on in his community, including Kennedy Elementary not having campaign or direction signs in front of the building at 10:30 a.m.

"First of all (senior voters) couldn't find which door to go in," Nickerson said.
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League of Women Voters president fights for all citizens to vote
Published On 11/7/2022
When Annie Johnson-Benifield was growing up in Beatrice, Ala., population 200, the right to vote was not only elusive but also illegal for her parents and other Black citizens.

Her parents did not have the right to vote until their 50s, and her mother, who died in 2021 at age 103, cast a ballot right up until 2020.

That's why Johnson-Benifield fights so hard for the right to vote for all citizens now.

As head of the League of Women Voters Houston, Johnson-Benifield is the first person of color to lead the organization in its 102-year history. The nonpartisan civic organization's goal is to empower voters and defend democracy. While the league conducts voter registration events, particularly with naturalization ceremonies, it does not endorse or support political candidates or parties.

"Voting rights is not a partisan issue," she said. "Every citizen should have the opportunity to engage and have his/her voice heard in the political process by casting a ballot
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Opinion: Get out and vote, there's no excuse not to
Published On 11/4/2022
Let’s get real.

The vast majority of us here in Victoria County can find time to vote.

If you waited to the last minute, or rather day, to cast your ballot, the bad news is that, like a lot of us, you’re a procrastinator. Good luck with that.

But there’s also some great news. Victoria County voters are blessed with an abundance of polling locations, and even if voters find themselves in line during the busiest time and location, they won’t have to wait for long.

On Election Day, 29 polling locations will be open for voters, who can show up at any one of those, regardless of where they live in the county. In fact, there are so many polling locations — in churches, fire stations, schools and other areas — that county commissioners had discussed reducing their number because some had so few voters show up.
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