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September 2020 Action News!

President's Message Grace Chimene The election is almost here! And it is confusing! Be the person who knows the answers! It is time for you to talk about voting and elections with everyone you know! This month I am talking with the media, communities of faith, sororities, educators, nonprofits, and many other organizations.I’m sharing the Leagues’ trusted voter information. And you can, too! Our democracy needs your help! Be the person who knows the answers. You probably already are the person your friends, neighbors and colleagues look to for accurate election information. You can find out everything about voting in Texas on theLeague's Voting & Elections web pages. Check out theGet Out The Vote resources. Don't forget to share the new voter education videos on theLeague’s YouTubechannel. You can help get out these important voting and election messages! Register to vote:NOW! Pushregister2vote.org(no printer or stamp required) for the first two to three weeks of September. Last minute folks will need to contact their League for help from a Volunteer Deputy Registrar or go to theircounty voter registrar. Vote by mail:Eligible? Apply NOW! If you get your application to yourcounty early voting clerkbefore September 19th, you will receive your ballot 30 days before the election. TheNovember 3rd General Electionis the first election without straight-party voting! Voters can no longer check one box to vote for one party’s candidates in every partisan race.Instead, voters must mark a candidate for each race. More than ever, voters witll need the League'snonpartisan Voters Guide. Itwill be available late September onVOTE411.organd early October on the League website. Help voters to learn more about all of the candidates, not just the high profile races by sharing VOTE411.org and the Voters Guide! The down ballot offices impact your every day life. Thank you! I know I can count on you to be a trusted League resource in your community!

The Texas League in Action!

Federal Court rules in the Texas "motor-voter" case On August 28, 2020, Judge Garcia of the US District Court in San Antonioruledthat, under the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is legally obligated to permit a voter registration application with every transaction, including online transactions. Thus, the court ordered the DPS to comply with the law by establishing a system that treats each online driver's license renewal or change-of-address application as an application for voter registration. The DPS system must be fully operable for public use on or before September 23, 2020. We will see if an appeal is filed.

Amicus Briefs filed by LWVTX The TX League supports lawsuits filed in NY, DC ,and CA challenging thePresident's directiveto exclude undocumented immigrants from Census count. The President's directive made in a memo in July would result in diluting the political power and federal funding of many states and, in particular, states such as California, Texas, and New York with large immigrant population. The Constitution states thatevery personis to be counted in the Census. Excluding certain persons from the Census count means certain states would receive fewer congressional districts and Electoral College votes, as well as federal funds. Oral argument in the NY case was heard on Thursday, September 3rd at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Donate Now to Support More League Action!

Webinar Set: What You Need to Know to Vote In Texas! These webinars are open for all Texas voters to attend. Spread the word!

The Ins and Outs ofSafe Votingwith Christina Adkins, Elections Division, Texas Secretary of State Date:September 22nd, National Voter Registration Day Time:Noon Description:Everything you need to know about Vote By Mail in Texas and all about safer options for in-person voting. Click here to register. (After the President) Who Else is on the Ballot? Date:October 6th (during Voter Education Week) Time:Noon Description:School Boards, County Commissioners, and Judges - how do these offices impact you and your neighbors? This webinar will discuss responsibilities of down ballot offices and how the elected officials impact the communities they serve. Click here to register.

Celebrating 19th Amendment 100 Year Anniversary!

Austin singer/songwriter and blues guitarist, Jackie Venson and Texas League President Grace Chimene talk about voting and Jackie played a few tunes for us. Watch the videohere. Special thanks to our many generous auction item donors! Kudos also to the Leagues all around Texas that held events and activities to recognize the historic achievement of the 19th Amendment.

TX Women's Conference Gives Shout Out to VOTE411.org!

The Texas Women's Conference highlightedVOTE411.orgin an email to their supporters last week. You can do this too! Share the link to the League'sVOTE411.orgnonpartisan voter education platform with all the organizations you belong to!

Remember to always include .org when you give VOTE411.org a shout out!

Local Leagues in Action!

LWV Comal Area, LWV El Paso and LWV Fort Bend Take the Lead on Redistricting

Led by Texas League Board Member and Census & Redistricting Issue Chair, Stephanie Swanson, Fair Maps Texas will be holding a series of Fireside Chats to prepare for the upcoming legislative session.The speakers are local League members who are currentlyworking on redistricting advocacy at both the state and local levels.These discussions will address building effective advocacy campaigns for the upcoming redistricting cycle. Sep. 21st, 7 PM -Legislative Engagement Strategy. Daphne Spraitzar, LWV Comal Area Daphneworked as a legislative advocate for the US Army and helped people engagewith legislativeoffices.She will be sharing insights into how to have a successful meeting with legislative staffers. Sep. 28th, 7 PM - Passing Resolutions on Redistricting. Judy Ackerman, LWV El Paso Judy has now passed 4 local resolutions with El Paso County and El Paso City Council.She will be walking you through the process that the El Paso Fair Maps group used to accomplish this and will be sharing insights she learned along the way. Oct. 5th, 7 PM - Base Building & Communities of Interest. Lydia Ozuna, LWV Fort Bend Lydia has put together her own group called Texas AgainstGerrymandering.They have been successful at engaging with local community members in Harris and Ft. Bend counties. She will be sharing how they recruit new members and keep them involved. Register for this series here.

Way to go, LWV Houston Area!

LWV Houston Area was prominently featured in anarticlefrom FiveThirtyEight about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the voter registration numbers of recently naturalized citizens. The Houston League has been working hard to continue registering recently naturalized citizens during the pandemic. You're doing great work, LWV Houston Area! Stay safe!

MARIO TAMA / GETTY IMAGES

Calendar

Be inspired by voting and civil rights heroines and heroes! Add theLWVTX Voting and Civil Rightscalendar to yourGoogle CalendaroriCal. Never forget an election, addtheTexas Electionscalendar to yourGoogle CalendaroriCal. September 22:National Voter Registration Day October 5:Last day to register to vote before the General Election October 5-9:National Voter Education Week October 13:Early Voting begins October 23:Last day to apply for Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked) October 30:Last day of Early Voting November 3:Election Day!

FYI: More Actions You Can Take!

Under 100,000 in Your County? Request more voting hours! Did you know that204 counties in Texashave a population count of under 100,000! Voters in these counties may request more voting hours. Learn howhere.

Recruit Election Workers & Election Protection Volunteers Texas counties need more poll workers! Encourage your young friends tohelp democracy by getting paid tobe a county election workeror volunteer to help voters withelection protectionon Election Day.