It's March -- Primary voters choose candidates for the November election! Look in this update for:
Read on to learn more! |  | |
Happy voting, everyone! The Austin League is buzzing with amazing activities, all thanks to members like you. Check out our March highlights below!
🗳️ Haven't voted yet? You still have time to Turn Out the Vote! Use Vote411.org to find your polling location, see what's on the ballot, and read candidate statements in our Voters Guide.
💬 Love using Vote411 and accessing the Voters Guide in 4 languages? Let's give a BIG THANK YOU to our Voter Services team! Want to volunteer to help with the Voters Guide for the local and general elections? Email me at jforeman@lwvaustin.org.
📅 Last week, Carol Limaye and I met with Mayor Kirk Watson to hear about his Austin goals. Check out my summary of his views on affordability, the Fayette Power Project coal-fired power plant, and more.
🌟 After the March 5th election, we aren’t slowing down! March 6th-7th is Amplify Austin, our big fundraiser! Donate, share on social media, and learn more below.
🎟️ On March 27th, our IRRESISTIBLE Evening for Democracy event will be at South Lamar Alamo and in NYC, Chicago, LA, and Raleigh. Tickets are almost sold out! Get yours today.
👥 Nominations for next year's board are open! Interested in serving? We need fresh ideas and faces. Contact Carol Olewin to find out where your skills can serve best.
🙌 Thank you, everyone. Keep up the great work!
Jessica Foreman LWVAA President
Return to top |  | Share the LWV Nonpartisan Voters Guide
The March 2024 primary elections hold immense importance, as they often determine the winners of the general election in November. To help voters chose the best candidates, we offer the Voters Guide in different formats and languages.
- Find your personal ballot online at VOTE411.org in English and Spanish
- Find a printed Voters Guide at the following locations
- Go to LWVAustin.org to read a PDF in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or simple Chinese.
Encourage Voter Turnout
Austin PBS partnered with LWV Austin Area to promote the Voters Guide on their programs! Let us know if you see it!
Share your plans! Tell your friends and family what you learned in the process of making your voting plan and encourage them to make their own. Then, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard!
Help us spread the word! Like, post, and share the LWV Voters Guide!
Need Help Voting? Contact Election Protection
Use the numbers below to talk with trained lawyers and volunteers who provide trusted nonpartisan information to help voters who run into trouble when voting.
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Amplify Austin Begins March 6!
Amplify Austin, central Texas’ community-wide day of giving, will be here in six days! This is one of the biggest giving days of the year here in central Texas, and the League of Women Voters Austin Area needs your help to keep Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy. Here's how you can help get us to our goal of $15,000:
- Make a donation. If each LWVAA member and supporter made a $40 donation, we’d already be well past our goal.
- Share with your friends. Send an email to 5 of your friends who care about Defending Democracy and ask them to match your gift today.
- Share on social media. You’ll see posts on the LWVAA’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Just hit that "share" button and tell your friends why you’re donating this year!
But you don’t have to wait! Schedule your donation HERE right now and it will count toward Amplify Austin Day.
Thank you so much for your support! It’s because of you that LWVAA is able to continue production, translation, and distribution of the Voters Guide™ in a critical election year.
|  | LWVAA Fundraiser 2024: Ticket Sales Are Still Open!!
Just 24 Seats Left! Join us on March 27 for An IRRESISTIBLE Evening for Democracy!
We sold out the first theater at the Alamo South Lamar and had to move this evening of drinks, film, fun, and food to a larger theater. Be a part of our first-ever simultaneous night out at Alamo Drafthouses in conjunction with Leagues in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and Raleigh. From the signature cocktail “Voters Choice” to the GoVoteTote swag bag, this will be a night to support LWVAA while enjoying the whole Alamo Experience. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. and lasts until 9:00 p.m. Parking is free -- how can you resist?
| Observer Corps
Is the point of the Observer Corps to promote our positions or help carry out those of the governmental entity? The answer is "both" -- it just depends. We don’t really have a lot of control over the meeting agendas, so the reality is we react to whatever it is that elected officials are doing -- but there may be times when we can promote our interests. Sadly, sometimes we’re on the defensive and say “don’t” rather than promoting something positive. The real point of the Observer Corps is for us to know what a group is doing and when so we can comment during a meeting, get our members to reach out to elected officials, write an op ed, etc. -- in other words, so we have time to take appropriate action.
With strong LWV education positions and strong interest in education by LWVAA members, the Advocacy and Education Committee is discussing the feasibility of involvement in the smaller ISD’s beyond the already strong involvement of the First Vote! team. Observer Corps volunteers are needed in the following ISDs: Austin, Del Valle, Eanes, Elgin, Lago Vista, Lake Travis, Leander, Manor, and Pflugerville. If you live in one of these areas and would like to participate in the Observer Corps, contact Advocacy Director Karen Nicholson.
Read highlights of local government meetings written by Observer Corps volunteers: Travis County Commissioner’s Court, Austin City Council, and the AISD Board.
Texas Tribune "Child Care in Texas Communities"
Child care is getting a lot of much needed attention both locally and statewide. United Way of Greater Austin will be presenting an update to Child Care 101 to LWVAA membership later this spring or early fall. Local developments could result in a local ballot initiative this November focused on addressing the quality, accessibility, equity, and sustainability of early child education and care. Stay tuned for an event announcement!
Meanwhile, the Texas Tribune is holding a panel discussion on “Child Care in Texas Communities” at 9:00 AM on March 20 at the Tribune's Studio 919 in Austin. This in-person event will be live streamed for virtual attendees and will be available to watch on demand afterwards. Learn more and RSVP here.
Update: Austin Energy
There has been quite a bit of activity related to Austin Energy. Mayor Watson has said he thinks that Austin should get out of the Fayette Power Project, a coal-fired power plant, by January 2029. The Electric Utility Commission working group and City Council, meeting as the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, suggested that Austin Energy plans should accelerate the goal of eliminating fossil fuels from the utility's generation mix. Climate change issues will continue to be monitored and addressed. Read the Austin Monitor's article: Electric Utility Commission offers climate-friendly recommendations for Austin Energy update.
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Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities From the Membership Committee
The Membership Committee has some tabling opportunities coming up in the next couple of months: at a party for Fantastic Fest on March 10; at An IRRESISTIBLE Evening for Democracy on March 27; and at the Friends & Family Spring Festival on April 27. Any LWVAA member is welcome to volunteer!
We’ll also be supporting one of the activities planned for the Friends & Family Spring Festival: a “Democracy Rocks!” treasure hunt! Details to follow, but here’s a clue: be on the lookout for for an invitation to a rock painting party!
| LWVAA Nonpartisan Voters Guide Spotted in the Wild!
Please thank the following news, organizations and businesses for sharing information about the Voters Guide! Email Grace Chimene when you spot the LWV Voters Guide in a newsletter, TV, radio, website or at a business or organization so we can add to the growing list of supporters! | Follow, Subscribe, Share LWVAA Posts!
The LWVAA TikTok channel needs 10 more followers to get to 100! Give a shout out to the Austin mayor, city council members, and the Travis County clerk for videos promoting the election. Watch for the PBS promotion. Let us know if you see it on KLRU! | Tell Your Voting Story!
Share photos, short videos, or a short written story! Share stories about the Voters Guide, your voting experience, any issues voting, or just why you love the League.
| Volunteer With LWVAA!
Register Voters Across the Austin Area!
Help needed! There are lots of opportunities to register voters!
Contact: Claudia Torres-Yanez, Director of Voter Registration and Turnout
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First Vote! Volunteers Contact Young Voters with League in Action!
We temporarily switched from registering high school students to contacting them. We reminded them about the primary dates, provided info on what IDs they need, how to find their polling locations, and how to research what is on their ballot. A few volunteers stepped up and helped contact 260 students who requested election reminders when we registered them. You can help! Sign up for League in Action.
We are constantly working on scheduling visits to more schools in Travis County. If you have connections to any high school (as a parent, teacher, staff, or any other connection) and would like to help us secure dates, please let us know.
We are currently working with the Texas School for the Deaf to decide when and how to bring our program to both their high school students and their young adult programs.
| Election Protection needs Poll Monitors!
Election Protection is in dire need of more Poll Monitors! League members are invited to sign up for a shift without going through a formal training session. League members can sign up for a shift directly on helptexasvote.org.
Become a Social Media Monitor!
| Call for Nominations for the June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025 LWVAA Board of Directors
The LWVAA Nominating Committee is calling for a slate of candidates to be presented to the Membership at the LWVAA Annual Meeting on May 11, 2024. The following positions are open for election in 2024:
Officers
President Elect - Term of service is June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025 and then President from June 1, 2025 - May 31, 2027
Vice President - Organization
Vice President - Communications and Technology
Secretary
The term of service for Vice Presidents and Secretary is June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2026
Directors- at- Large
Director - Voters Guide
Director - Advocacy
Director - Membership
Director - Development
Director - Volunteer Services
Director - Voter Registration and Turnout
The term of service for Directors at Large is June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025
Nominations for these positions may be submitted to the Nominations Chair. Submit the name of the nominee, the office for which nomination is made, and the nominee's contact information. Nominations should be submitted by March 31, 2024.
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2024 Friends & Family Spring Festival
Help LWVAA plan the Friends & Family Spring Festival happening on Saturday, April 27! If you have ideas for entertainment or fun activities to include at this event or would like to be involved in any way, please reach out.
Contact: Kate Abel, VP Organization
| LWVTX
“When people vote in a primary, they’re trying to send their best candidate to the general election in November,” said Barbara Larkin, LWV Dallas. "Good news: Your vote in the primaries makes a bigger impact because fewer people are voting."
Convention - Join with other Texans dedicated to our mission of empowering voters at the LWVTX Biennial Convention on April 19 - 21! This year's theme is "Embracing Our Diversity. Defending Democracy."
| Welcome to Our Newest Members!
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Amy Cobb*
Ann Hudspeth
Elizabeth Jones* |
| Tim Jones*
Donna Josey*
Vivien Kilby |
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| Mariel O'Brien-Olivo
Stacey Seaman
Kim Vitray* |
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* Indicates a Sustaining Member
| Thank You to Our Sustaining and Renewing Members!
When you join the Austin Area League, you automatically become a member of the National and Texas Leagues.
| | The League shall not support or oppose any political party or candidates. It may take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest after significant study and consensus is reached. | |