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1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin, TX 78701

Phone:
(512) 472-1100
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Date: 1/6/2022
Subject: LWVTX Action News!
From: Grace Chimene



January 2022 Action News!
President's Message:
Grace Chimene
 
Today we remember the trauma of January 6, 2021. One year later, the same faction that attacked our country on January 6th is hard at work silencing our voices by restricting our freedom to vote, attacking fair voting, and quietly preparing future attempts to sabotage free and fair elections... and with it our democracy. It is more important than ever to support our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. I am so glad to have you, ~~first_name~~, on this journey with the League.  Thank you for your continued support!
 
Happy New Year!
Even before the new year, LWV Texas board members and volunteers were already planning for the March 1, 2022 Texas Primary Election. Now we are in full swing preparing our best-in-class, non-partisan Voters Guide. (Today is the last day to order.) We have also created social media messages and graphics to get out the vote and assist voters in understanding the changes required to vote in the Primary Election. See our press release about preparing voters for the 2022 Primary Election here.
 
What is going on in Texas?
The Secretary of State’s office and four of the largest population counties in Texas should be preparing for the 2022 Primary Elections, but instead they are wasting election officials’ time and Texas’ money on an audit of the 2020 General Election. So far the Secretary of State's audit results have repeated the existing audits counties already carry out and has found very little.
See the Texas Tribune's article on the audit here

The League is extremely concerned that another poorly executed review of Non-U.S. Citizen Voters is taking place. Thousands of naturalized U.S. citizens are receiving Notice of Examination letters indicating that they have been flagged as noncitizens by the Department of Public Safety by their Driver License or Personal Identification. This process reminds me of the 2019 debacle where 100,000 Texas voters were erroneously declared non-citizens by the acting Secretary of State. The League is calling on the Secretary of State to fix the process so the harassment of naturalized US citizens stops.  See LWVTX Statement.  We are also in contact with lawyers should we need to take additional action.
See Texas Tribune's article on the voter review process here.

What should be going on in Texas!
Much of the voter registration and vote by mail information on the state's voting and election webpages is out of date. In 2021, the Texas legislature passed a massive election bill that impacts how voters participate in our democracy. Deadlines for the March 1st Primaries are quickly approaching, but the Secretary of State's Office is behind in updating information voters need at their voter information website, VoteTexas.gov.  
  • The new and exciting online ability to update your voter registration if you moved or changed your name is now available at a different website, texas.gov, but is buried under “resident” and there is no obvious link for voters on the menu. Voters should not have to dive down a rabbit hole to find this information. 
  • What's more, the Ballot by Mail application pdf is working but the information on who is eligible and how to fill out the application is out of date. We are waiting for the Track My Ballot by Mail process. 
We are in contact with the Secretary of State’s office about these issues and are monitoring the voting information for updates. The League is working with  the Secretary of State to update the votetexas.gov website to align with the new election law and to provide the  information in plain language so that all voters can easily participate in their democracy.
 
This is what we do. We advocate to pursue the League's vision to secure a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge and the confidence to participate. Support democracy in Texas. Donate today!
Grace Chimene
President
Your Texas League in Action!
Primary Election Social Media Messages & Graphics
 
With so many changes in the voting laws, we need you to help to unravel this mess so that Texas voters make their plan to vote. You will make a difference by sharing the League nonpartisan messages and graphics about voting with your friends and acquaintances, your family, and your colleagues.  
 
Please share the voter education videos below. 

There will be additional materials coming soon! Watch your inbox as well as follow and share the posts on the Texas League's FacebookInstagram, YouTube and/or Twitter.

Voter Guides Order Deadline is Today!


Please fill out this Order Form for your printed 2022 Primary Election Voter Guides no later than January 7th. The Primary Election is March 1st. We will get these to you as soon as possible. For Texas Leagues, the cost of the printed Voters Guide ranges from $40 per hundred up to 1000 Voters Guides for $375. For other community groups and organizations, the Voters Guides are $55/100 and $450 for 1000. 
 
The influence of the printed Voters Guide and the online version, VOTE411.org, continues to expand greatly. For the 2020 General Election, over 33,000 printed Guides were distributed throughout the state. Even in the middle of the pandemic, we received a lot of feedback about how many folks value that printed copy to take to the polls! In addition, usage of VOTE411.org went through the roof, surpassing the 2016 General Election by more than three time

Request your Absentee Ballot Now! 
 
Voters who wish to Vote by Mail in ALL 2022 elections and are 65 or older or a voter with disabilities fill out your application now! The deadline for applications to be received is February 14. Voters must use the new Application to Vote by Mail.  Here are the links to the forms in English and  SpanishFor guidance for how to apply check out the League Vote By Mail resources here.  

For more information on the changes to Absentee Voting in Texas, check out the How to Be A Texas Voter in the 2022 Primary Election on the LWV Texas website.

New! Update Your Voter Registration Online! 

 

Update your voter registration online if you moved or changed your name here. You will need your Texas Drivers License or Personal Identification Card, Social Security Number, and Voter Registration Card VUID (Voter Unique Identifier) number. If you do not have your VUID number, you can find it on your voter registration card or at am I registered by putting in your name, county and date of birth.

 

See our YouTube video:  How to Register to Vote in Texas


2022 LWV Texas Biennial Convention - April 8-10 
 
The 2022 LWV Texas Biennial Convention will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Austin, April 2-10. Delegates elected by their home League will vote on issues, LWVTX board leadership, and the League budget. The LWVTX board  Service to Local Leagues Committee is organizing three tracks of workshops: Voting & Elections, Membership, and League management. The $150 convention registration will include the luncheon on Saturday. For the more details have a look at the 2022 Convention Information page
Take Action Today!
Demand that President Protect Our Freedom to Vote
Email President Biden Here
Email Your Senators Here
Local Leagues in Action!
LWV San Antonio Youth Initiative Contest: 
 Picture This: Our Future - Our Vote 
 
LWV San Antonia held an essay contest, Picture This: Our Future - Our Vote, to engage high school, college, and graduate students with the League's core mission and to consider how their vote will impact their future.  Read the winning essays on the LWV San Antonio webpage

LWV Cooke County Holiday Parade 2021
LWV Cooke County marches in the Gainesville Holiday Parade on December 2nd.
LWV Austin Registers 550 voters for the 2022 primary
LWV Austin Area celebrates registering 550 new voters for the 2022 Primary Election. 
Your Texas League in the News!
~~first_name~~, you can find the reporting on LWV Texas on our new website! Check out the new website and the Texas League in the News section. 
FYI:
Preserving Democracy Logo 1
Preserving Democracy: Pursuing a More Perfect Union
Starts Today! January 6, 2022
 
This PBS series traces American democracy from the revolutionary war to the 2021 capitol riot and beyond in new documentary.  Follow the pursuit of democracy from the Revolutionary War through recurring cycles of civil rights progress and backlash, the 2021 Capitol riot and beyond. Explore the impact of voter rights and a civics curriculum on engaged and informed citizens. More details here

Supreme Court in 2022: Future of Abortion Rights, Voting Rights & Gun Control - Wed, January 26, 2022 @ 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Central (5-6:30 PM Mountain)

Join the League of Women Voters of San Diego for a panel discussion about the current Supreme Court and issues such as abortion rights, gun control and voters' rights in 2022.  RSVP HERE.

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