Welcome to LWVAA's Weekly VOTER
The Weekly VOTER is here to make sure everyone stays in the know about opportunities to empower voters and defend democracy in our community. Like what you see? Please share with your friends!
| June is Pride Month!
A healthy democracy means everyone can live freely, safely, and with their full rights intact. That includes our LGBTQIA+ community, always. Right now, those rights are being challenged in real ways. And when any group’s rights are chipped away, it impacts all of us. Democracy only works when it works for everyone.
This Pride Month, we’re celebrating loudly and standing firmly:
✨ We believe in equal rights under the law
✨ We believe in protecting our communities
✨ We believe trans rights are human rights
There is no true democracy without freedom, dignity, and access for all. Let's keep building a future where everyone belongs. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 |  | Three things you can do to support democracy this week.
It’s been a long primary season. Voters have now chosen the candidates who will appear on the ballot in the Midterm Election.
This week:
1. Thank the people who make democracy work. Election workers, volunteers, poll workers, candidates, and public servants dedicate countless hours to strengthening our communities and protecting the democratic process. A simple note of gratitude goes a long way.
2. Celebrate your impact. Take a moment to recognize your own role in supporting the League’s mission of empowering voters and defending democracy. Every conversation, volunteer hour, donation, and act of civic engagement matters.
3. Take care of yourself. Democracy work is meaningful work — and it can also be exhausting. Pause for a moment. Rest. Breathe deeply. Spend time with people and places that restore your energy. Sustaining democracy also means sustaining ourselves.
LWVUS wants to hear your Election Hero story. Tell us about an election worker who inspired you or what motivated you to become an election worker yourself. | First Vote! volunteer slots are still available at AISD 2026 Grad Week at the Burger Center. Sign up here. | Empower voters and support democracy at community events!
- Fridays and Saturdays at Alamo Drafthouse locations
- Saturday, June 6 - Open Canopy
- Saturday June 13 - Austin Public Library
Check out our calendar to sign up to help.
Request a speaker or voter registration table
- Is an organization or business you know hosting a concert, picnic, panel, or party? Help your community get vote-ready! Ask them to request a nonpartisan LWVAA voter registration table.
- Ask the League to co-host or to provide a speaker for a nonpartisan event.
- We show up anywhere people gather with clipboards, answers, and nonpartisan energy.
| Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election
Austin, it’s officially on. 🐾
This summer, Franklin the Dog and Gus the Cat are facing off for Austin Pet Mayor in the ultimate mock election showdown.
Join us on June 13 for our first PAWS to the Polls block party and warm up for the midterms! Cast your vote using a real voting machine and experience democracy in a fun, low-pressure way.
Share this event with friends and family in the Pflugerville community. Bring your friends, grandchildren, college students, new voters, reluctant voters -- you name it. Do you have a child in your life you want to introduce to voting? Children 8 and up can use the machines with an adult's assistance.
Free swag, candidate stump speeches, a community event, and one very important question: Are you voting dogs…or cats?
RSVP for the Pflugerville event here.
| Votebeat:
Texas Standard:
Texas Tribune:
KUT:
KXAN:
Community Impact:
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Learn Advocacy Skills
✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 July 9 - Oct 15 (Thursdays):
Apply today for ACLU Texas and Texas Freedom Network's Texas Education Advocacy Series (TEAS). This is an online advocacy action program designed to empower Texans across the state to fight at both the local and state levels for our students’ rights to be, learn, and thrive in schools. Applications are open from May 18 to June 15 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Keep up with LWV!
News
⚖️ "The unacceptable conditions at Delaney Hall are horrifying. More than 300 people detained inside the facility are now on a hunger and labor strike after enduring inadequate medical care, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, spoiled food, and inhumane treatment." League of Women Voters Statement on Delaney Hall Hunger Strike and Immigration Detention Conditions
🗳️ Voting rights groups, including LWV of Florida, filed a lawsuit in the state court to stop Florida’s new congressional map. The state court denied LWV FL’s motion to temporarily stop the maps from going into effect, but the League will continue to challenge Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ overtly partisan congressional map.
🗳️ LWV, LVW of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP, and the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice filed an emergency motion to block Governor Jeff Landry’s suspension of the Louisiana House primary election already underway.
🗳️ LWV of Colorado filed a federal lawsuit against a CO law that allows one-party elections to fill state legislative vacancies in certain circumstances.
🗳️ Maine became the most recent state to win a case against the DOJ after the state refused to hand over its complete voter file. The court ruled against the Justice Department, finding that it failed to establish a sufficient legal basis for demanding the data. The DOJ is now 0–8 in lawsuits to force states to turn over sensitive voter data.
| | Highlighted League & community events | June 13
Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election. Get ready to cast your ballot for Pet Mayor of Austin! Come to our all-ages block party featuring games, food, and hands-on voting practice! Starting in Pflugerville and running through the summer in eight locations around Austin and Travis County. Hosted by LWVAA in partnership with the Travis County Clerk's office. Keep checking our website for a venue near you! RSVP for the Pflugerville event here.
June 19:
Juneteenth, also known as "Freedom Day" or "Emancipation Day" commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Join the Central Texas Juneteenth Celebration.
June 20:
League 101. Are you new to the League? League-curious? Or are you a long-time member ready for a refresh? Then join us for League 101. RSVP here!
June 27: Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election (Manor)
July 11: Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election (Southwest Austin)
July 25: Paws to the Polls: The Great Austin Pet Election (Central Austin)
| Welcome Our Newest Members! | Jana Dodd
Anupa Gharpurey
Shirlene Justice
Ginny Lappin
Miranda Lemon
Dyan Lofton
Aaron Ludeke
Joan Peterson |
Jonah Popp
Charles Radin
Jill Rutherford
Kaitlyn Tran
Diane Umstead
Linda Plummer Wagenet
Ellen Willoughby |
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It is with sadness that we share news of the passing of Cathy McHorse, a decade-long League member and LWVAA leader. Cathy most recently served as Advocacy Director, where she coordinated visits with local elected officials, chaired the Voters Guide Questions Committee, led a revival of our Observer Corps, and was a frequent contributor to The VOTER newsletter. An expert on early childhood education and a passionate advocate for children, Cathy sat on panels as LWVAA updated our local Education position and worked with the LWV Texas Issue Chair for child health. Cathy also served as Coalition Manager for Affordable Childcare Now!, advocating for increased access to affordable and high-quality childcare, after-school programs, and summer programming throughout Travis County.
Celebration of Cathy’s life:
Saturday, June 6, 2:00 p.m.
Junior League of Austin’s Community Impact Center
5330 Bluffstone Lane
Austin, Texas 78759
| If you've read this far, it must be worth it.
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| The League shall not support or oppose any political party or candidates. It may take action on governmental measures and policies in the public interest after significant study and consensus is reached. | |