December 2022 Action News! |  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
In 2022, the League’s nonpartisan Voters Guide was used well over a million times across Texas through VOTE411, our website, and the distributed printed guides! Once again, I thank the many League volunteers who work tirelessly to make our Empowering Voters work possible through their numerous voter registration and education efforts. League volunteers are unmatched by any other nonpartisan grassroots organization!
Our primary focus now is our nonpartisan advocacy work using our established positions. Elected officials are already filing bills for the 88th Legislative Session that starts January 10, 2023. LWV Texas’ priority issues are voting and elections law, women’s health and reproductive choice, gun safety, and public education. But we are fighting for many other positions too.
I am immensely proud of the work our League community of volunteers, staff, interns, and partner organizations accomplished this past year. I look forward to what we will achieve in 2023. Please look at our 2022 LWV Texas Annual Report.
Once again, I also thank you, our supporters. We can not do this work without you! With your help, we fight for the freedom for ALL Texas voters to vote, including those in communities hardest hit by anti-democracy voter suppression efforts: Black, Latino/a, Asian American, and Pacific Islander voters; voters with disabilities; LGBTQ+ voters; and young and rural voters. Will you again stand with us and make a year-end gift to the League?
I hope you will join me for the Women Power Texas - A Making Democracy Work Dinner on Monday, February 27, 2023. More details are below.
Happy Holidays! |  | | Your Texas League in Action |  | Texas League Prepares for the 88th Texas Legislature
With the election over, legislators are preparing for the legislative session in January. Starting in November, bills were being pre-filed for possible consideration during the session. The League of Women Voters of Texas will be following bills on our priority issues: Voting Rights & Election Law, Gun Safety, Women's Health and Reproductive Choice and Public Education. We also have volunteers monitoring other issues.
While bills may be filed, not all will receive the same attention from legislators. The League will focus on bills, in our issue areas, that have a chance of becoming law. Watch for our Capitol Action Report starting on January 16 and every week thereafter throughout the Session.
When we speak with one voice based on positions based on members' consensus, legislators know that what they hear from State League advocates at the Capitol in Austin is what they will hear from the League back home in their constituencies. Throughout the Session, you will receive Action Alerts requesting that you contact your representatives to relay the League’s position on priority issues. Our Action Center allows members and supporters to easily respond reminding their elected representatives that their constituents care about the issues being discussed at the Capitol.
|  | League Files Amicus Brief: Moore v. Harper
Supreme Court Heard Oral Arguments on Moore v. Harper on December 7
The League of Women Voters of the United States, represented by the Fair Elections Center and O’Melveny and Myers LLP, filed an amicus brief on behalf of LWV Texas, all other state Leagues and the LWV of the District of Columbia, arguing that adopting the North Carolina Legislature’s theory would cause chaos in election administration and confuse voters by creating massive administrative burdens for elections officials, and allow states to create two separate sets of rules for state and federal elections.
After the oral arguments, the SCOTUSblog reported, "The Supreme Court on Wednesday signaled that it may not be ready to adopt a sweeping interpretation of the Constitution, known as the “independent state legislature” theory, that would give state legislatures broad power to regulate federal elections without interference from state courts. Although some justices appeared receptive to that theory during nearly three hours of argument, it was not clear that there was a majority to endorse it, even as other justices focused on a narrower version of the theory that would preserve at least some role for state courts in enforcing state laws or the state constitution... A decision in the case is expected by next summer." The SCOTUSblog provides independent news and analysis on the US Supreme Court.
| | Does You Community Have Runoff Elections?
Check if your city has any runoff elections. Remind your friends, family and colleagues to vote. Decisions are made at the local level that affect your every day life. Find information about your local elections on
| | | LWV Texas is still gathering stories from Texas voters about their voting experience for the November 8th Midterm Election cycle. We will collect voting stories through the end of December. We will use this information (without revealing any personal identifying information) to enhance our nonpartisan voter education and to advocate at the Capitol for improvements to voting in Texas on behalf of voters.
Share your voting story here. | | |  |
Thank you for working along side all of the League members and supporters in Texas as we fight for our democracy! We are pushing back against anti-voter legislation, expanding the electorate to create a more inclusive democracy, and ensuring elections remain fair and accessible. Take the next step and support your League of Women Voters of Texas with a financial contribution.
Your support helps us to keep providing nonpartisan voter resources to Texans across the state. This year over a million Texans used our printed Voters Guide and VOTE411.org, the one-stop-shop for voting information empowering voters in multiple languages. Next year we go back to the Capital to advocate on behalf of voting rights, abortion rights, gun safety and quality public education. You can make a difference by supporting the important work of the League of Women Voters of Texas in defending democracy and empowering voters. Click here to make a generous contribution.
Make a Donation!
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LWV Corpus Christi
LWV Corpus Christi hosted candidate forums leading up to the November 6th Election. With multiple run off elections on December 13th, they have been using their Facebook page to share candidate and voting information. Posts include videos from their candidate forums, district maps, voting locations and guidance for early voting in Nueces County. Image courtesy of the LWV Corpus Christi Facebook page.
|  | LWV San Antonio
LWV of the San Antonio Area president, Madhu Sridhar, penned a thoughtful thanks to election workers that beautifully reflects all of our thanks. Read more here.
Photo credit: Jessica Phelps / Jessica Phelps.
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| Your Texas League in the News | |
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.
Read more News / Articles. | |
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.
Read more News / Articles. | | |  | Women Power Texas ~ A Making Democracy Work Dinner
Updated: Save the Date! The League of Women Voters of Texas will be hosting "Women Power Texas ~ A Making Democracy Work Dinner," our annual fundraising dinner on Monday, February 27th, 2023 at the University of Texas Etter-Harbin Alumni Center in Austin, Texas. Honorees details will be released soon!
Women Power the Texas Keynote Speaker Announced
Rochelle Garza, a former attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and former candidate for Texas Attorney General, will speak on her career in the courts. She has fought for people with disabilities, immigrants, and adequate health care. Garza advocated for reproductive rights of immigrant teens in detention, including the Garza v. Hargan case in which she was the guardian for Jane Doe, a pregnant 17-year-old denied the right to choose. A month-long legal battle ensued when the former president staged an unprecedented intervention to try to stop Jane Doe from making the decision that was hers alone to make. It is because of the Garza v. Hargan case and other court cases that we are proud to announce Rochelle Garza as our keynote speaker.
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League of Women Voters of Texas
1212 Guadalupe St. #107
Austin Texas, 78701
(512) 472-1100
lwvtexas@lwvtexas.org
lwvtexas.org
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