Date: 6/22/2026
Subject: The Weekly VOTER, June 22, 2026 - LWV of the Austin Area
From: LWV of the Austin Area

June 22, 2026

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!

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Website update

Dear defenders of democracy,

If you experienced any difficulties with the LWVAustin.org website in the last week, it wasn't your computer or your connection. The website had slowed to a crawl due to malicious activity originating outside the US that intended to stop all activity at websites hosted by our web platform provider. It was not directed at LWVAustin.org and data and information were never at risk.

Effective steps have been taken by our provider to stop the malicious activity. Our website is back up and functioning well.

Please be sure to check all of the events that are coming up and new links on the home page for issues that are important to LWVAA and to all of us.

Grace Chimene, Communications Team Leader

Empowering Voters.

Defending Democracy

Urgent action: Oppose proposed mail-in and absentee ballot regulations!

📫 🇺🇸🗳️ Take Action HERE! - On June 2, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a new rule that would establish elements of national standards for absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections. These new proposed rules will create unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots in time to be counted.

Learn more: Read the LWVUS press release Federal Court Allows Challenge to Executive Order Restricting Mail-in Voting to Proceed with Respect to the Midterm Elections

Attend an Event

June 23:

TX Civil Rights Project: Criminalization, Deportation, and the Surveillance State
Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership: Spotlight on Candidate Likability

June 24:

Nonprofit VOTE: Thinking Outside of the Clipboard - Creative Approaches to Voter Engagement

Partners

Help our Speakers Bureau build its inventory!

🗣️The LWVAA Speakers Bureau is busy building an inventory of presentations. So far, we've received requests for presentations on how to research your ballot; how to vote by mail; what's on the ballot in November; and steps you can take to support democracy.

Ask organizations, churches, or nonprofits you work with what voting and civics related subjects they would like to learn more about. Send topic ideas to Speakers Bureau Committee leads Leah Nyfeler or Barbara Martin. We will make it happen!

Would you like someone from LWVAA to speak to your group? Fill out a speaker request form here.

Volunteer

Share your volunteer time with the League!

🐾🪧 Help us spread the word about Paws to the Polls by putting up a yard sign or two in your neighborhood, or by asking local businesses to post flyers or set out informational material. LWVAA has everything you need! Just swing by our office from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 23 or Thursday, June 25, and we'll fix you up! For more information, contact Joyce Jackson.
🗳️ This summer, Volunteer Deputy Registrars (VDRs) will register voters at the Alamo Drafthouse, Open Canopy, the Central Public Library, and more. Want to help? Learn how to be a VDR here. For more information, contact voterservices@lwvaustin.org.
🐾🗳️ Visit our calendar to sign up for a shift registering voters or to volunteer at one of our Paws to the Polls events.

Volunteer with us!

Share your time and talents with LWVAA! Email volunteer@lwvaustin.org.

Find Volunteer Opportunities and Events

Democracy in the News

AP:

💰🎒 The private school choice boom leaves behind many kids in public school by Bianca Vazquez Tones & Sharon Lury

KUT/The Austin Current:

💰🎒 Austin ISD reduces its budget by $205 million for the 2026-27 school year by Greta Diaz Gonzalez Vazquez

Votebeat:

⚖️🗳️ Federal agents are seeking information from a prominent progressive election rights group: FBI probe of Ohio voting rights group expands to include an affiliated national advocacy network by Dion Nissenbaum

Advocacy

Join the Advocacy Team

There are many ways to have your voice heard by elected officials and policymakers. Take action on League priorities today by joining the LWVAA Advocacy Team. Contact Jazmin Cuellar, Advocacy Director, at advocacy@lwvaustin.org.

Issues important to you

Fox 7

💰🎒🚌 The Austin ISD Board of Trustees is set to vote on the final budget for the 2026-27 school year on June 18th. - This proposed budget includes a slew of cuts to address the $181 million budget deficit. The deadline for the district to adopt a budget is June 30. By Angela Shen

Community Impact

💰🎒🚌 Austin ISD proposes $181 million in cuts to close 2026-27 budget shortfall - Austin ISD officials released recommended budget reductions totaling $181 million for the 2026-27 school year, affecting 558 positions districtwide and resulting in community pushback ahead of a June 18 board meeting. By Jessica Mclaren

🏙️ Austin City Council moves into summer recess after energy expansion, annexation and housing votes. City Council's next regular voting meeting is scheduled for July 23. City Manager T.C. Broadnax is also expected to present his draft of Austin's fiscal year 2026-27 budget on July 16, followed by weeks of review before the spending plan is approved in August. By Ben Thompson

LWVUS:

Blog

✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿Celina Stewart, LWVUS CEO shares her personal stories about Juneteenth and the Danger of Selective Memory. "Juneteenth is a reminder that American democracy has always been defined by who is included in the promise."

LWVUS Newsroom LWVUS Blog Take Action With LWV

Mark Your Calendar!

Highlighted League & community events

July 1: National Constitution Center: The American Idea at 250
July 7: National Constitution Center: 2026 Supreme Court Review
July 13: Votebeat: Will the Midterms Happen? Your Election Questions, Answered
July 25: LWVAA: First Vote! Training (ACC Highland)

🗳️ The Great Austin Pet Election 🐾

"These events are great for new voters as they can help demystify the voting process before the 2026 Midterm Elections. We are so excited to be in partnership with the Travis County Clerk’s Office because the more opportunities people have to become familiar with voting equipment and the voting process, the more confident voters are when they show up to polling locations to cast their actual ballot." Carol Ecklecamp, LWVAA President.

The race for Austin Pet Mayor is on, and you're invited to cast your ballot at Paws to the Polls! Become a boss at voting while helping decide which furry candidate earns the title of Pet Mayor of Austin.

🐾 July 1 is Manor's big day!

Join LWVAA and the Travis County Clerk's office for a free afternoon of fun and civic learning. Practice researching the candidates using special editions of our nonpartisan Voters Guide and our online guide, VOTE411. Vote for the candidate of your choice using real Travis County voting machines. For this very special election, the polls are open to everyone 8 years old and up!

And there's more: face painting, activities for kids, popcorn, Kona Ice, and a chance to take a picture with the candidates' cut-outs. First-time voter? Future voter? Polling-place veteran? Everyone is welcome!

🗓 Wednesday, July 1
⏰ 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

📍 Travis County Community Center at Manor, 600 W. Carrie Manor Street, 78653

Share the promotional video with your friends!

July 1: 🐾 (Manor)

July 25: 🐾 (Central Austin)

August 13: 🐾 (Southeast)

Find More Events & Volunteer Opportunities

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🚗 🚙 🛻 Stuck in traffic? Don't honk and scream at the other drivers. Instead, make them read your "Maybe Voting Will Help" bumper sticker!

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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.

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