Welcome to the Weekly Voter, your League's Monday Newsletter
Democracy runs on people like us, and every week you'll find ways to help: concrete actions, news worth knowing, and what our chapter is doing across five counties.
Thanks for being here. Let's get to work! | | Today Is the Last Day to Register — Reach Out to Someone! 🗳️
Monday, October 5 is the deadline to register for the November 3 election. You're ready, but is everyone you know? Take five minutes today to text or call friends, family, and neighbors, especially young adults, new arrivals, and anyone who's recently moved. They can check their registration in seconds at VoteTexas.gov.
| Thank You, Voter Registration Volunteers! 🙌
Today's registration deadline caps weeks of hard work by League members across our five counties. Thank you to everyone who staffed a table and helped a neighbor get registered. A special thank-you to those who helped us build new connections with high schools, public housing developments, senior centers, and our Spanish-speaking neighbors. Those relationships will keep paying off long after this election. We're grateful for every one of you! |  | Voter Dog Is Ready to Go Out! 🐶
Early voting starts Monday, October 19
We want Voter Dog grinning from yards across all five counties on day one. If you haven't picked up your "Time to Vote! Early Vote Now!" sign yet, now's the time. Put it out Oct. 19, take it down after early voting ends Oct. 30, and store it for next election.
👉 To get a sign, contact your county liaison: Janice MacBride (Colorado), Susana Weber (DeWitt), or Karen Bookout or Carolyn McCrory (Fayette). In Lavaca and Gonzales, or anywhere else, contact Co-Presidents Janis Richardson (361-772-3228) or Helen Niesner (512-497-1561).
Look for Our Voters Guide in Your Local Paper
Starting the week of October 5
Our nonpartisan Voters Guide for the November 3 election is running in all 12 newspapers across our five counties. Watch for it in your paper this week, and pass it along to a neighbor when you're done!
👉 Prefer to read online? Find the English Guide on our website. The Spanish version will be there soon.
Celebrate Election Hero Day
Tuesday, October 20
Early voting is a busy time for the people who make our elections run: the county election staff, poll workers, and volunteers. Election Hero Day is a national day to thank them. Drop off a thank-you card at your county elections office or simply say "thank you" when you vote.
👉 Learn more about Election Hero Day - LWVUS Website
Calling All Writers!
Do you enjoy writing? Our League has a small team that regularly writes columns and articles for local newspapers, sharing nonpartisan information about voting, local government, and League issues with readers across our five counties. We're looking for 1–2 more members to join the team. No experience needed, just an interest in writing and a few hours here and there.
👉 Interested? Contact Janis Richardson (361-772-3228). |  | Let's Get Them Out! 📚
Our 35,000 nonpartisan Voters Guides land in all 12 of our local newspapers starting this week, but not everyone gets a paper. Your mission: pick three places in your town where people hang out, wait, browse, or come and go, like the nail salon, feed store, day care center, tire shop, coffee shop, or bakery. Ask the manager, leave a stack, and check back next week. Not sure what to say when someone asks, "Who sent you?" or "What is this?" Our blog post has friendly answers.
Pick up guides from your county contact:
Colorado County: Janice MacBride
DeWitt County: Susana Weber
Fayette County: Helen Niesner (512-497-1561) or Karen Bookout
Lavaca & Gonzales Counties: Janis Richardson (361-772-3228)
* We're not including personal phone numbers here other than for League leadership because this email is posted on our website and is publicly visible. Members can log into our website and find contact info for all members in the member directory under the "Members Only" tab. Try it out!
👉 Read Janis' blog post: Have Guide, Will Travel: Let's Get Them Out! |  | Three things to do for democracy this week:
📣 Speak Up for an Accurate Census. The Census Bureau has proposed counting only citizens and green-card holders when it divides up congressional seats, and ending its collection of race and ethnicity data. These numbers shape representation and funding for schools, health care, and disaster planning, including here in rural Texas. The public comment deadline has been extended to November 2.
👉 Submit a Comment - LWVUS Action Alert
🗳️ Get to Know Your Ballot. It's National Voter Education Week (Oct. 5–9)! Starting Tuesday, Oct. 6, VOTE411.org will show every race on your November ballot, from Congress to county offices, with candidates' answers in their own words. Spend a few minutes this week reviewing your ballot and making your voting plan, then share VOTE411 with friends and family. Early voting runs Oct. 19–30.
👉 Look Up Your Ballot - VOTE411
🤱 Ask the State to Release the Maternal Mortality Report. Texas's report on maternal deaths is overdue, and lawmakers will need it to make good decisions on maternal health care when the Legislature meets in January. That matters especially in rural areas like ours, where hospitals and obstetric care can be far away. Texas Impact makes it easy to add your voice.
👉 Release the Report - Texas Impact |  | Sharing a few headlines worth your attention this week:
Slower Mail Could Mean Late Ballots in Rural Areas. A new federal watchdog report found the Postal Service has slowed deliveries so much it's missing even its own lowered targets. About 24,000 post offices more than 50 miles from a regional processing center will lose afternoon mail collection, which hits rural communities hardest. If you vote by mail, send your ballot back early. 👉 Read more - Axios
Senate Blocks Bill Pairing Stock-Trading Limits With National Voter ID. A bill to rein in stock trading by members of Congress, which passed the House in July, failed a first procedural vote 53-47 on Sept. 30, seven votes short of the 60 needed. The bill would also have required voters to show a current state-issued driver's license or ID card, passport, military or veteran ID, or tribal ID. LWVUS had urged senators to vote no on the voter ID measure. 👉 Read more - Roll Call
Americans Still Believe in Democracy, but Worry About How It's Working. A Kettering Foundation–Gallup survey of more than 23,000 adults found 66% still call democracy the best form of government. But the share who say it's performing poorly rose to 56%, up from 51% last year. Most of the change came from Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, whose views moved closer to the more critical views of others. 👉 Read more - The Kettering Foundation
|  | Listen: How Citizens United Changed American Elections
In 2010, the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC struck down limits on political spending by corporations and outside groups, opening the door to a new era of super PACs and ever-costlier campaigns. As part of a Kettering Foundation series on turning points in American democracy, the history podcast This Day looks back at the case and what it has meant for ordinary citizens' voice in government. League CEO Celina Stewart joins the conversation. With record-breaking spending expected this fall, it's a timely listen. 👉 Listen - This Day podcast with LWVUS' CEO Celina Stewart
Read: Why Your Ballot Speaks More Than One Language
Since 1975, Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act has required many communities, including the entire state of Texas, to provide ballots, forms, and voting help in languages other than English. An LWVUS blog explains how the law works, why many places still fall short, and what it could mean for voters as the coverage list is updated at the end of this year. With our Spanish Voters Guide coming soon, it's a timely read. 👉 Read the blog - LWVUS
Also from LWVUS for Hispanic Heritage Month (through Oct. 15): We Are the Seeds They Tried to Bury. |  |  | | Hamilton Cast Says: It's Time for the Midterms! 🎶
The Broadway company of Hamilton reworked three favorites from the show, "Aaron Burr, Sir," "You'll Be Back," and "The Room Where It Happens," into a catchy anthem about getting ready for the November 3 midterms. Three minutes of pure fun.
| League of Women Voters of South Central Texas
PO Box 78, Hallettsville, TX 77964
361.772.3228
lwvsouthcentraltx.org
lwvsouthcentraltx@gmail.com
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