LWV Charleston Area | August

Federal courts granted preliminary injunctions this month in two separate lawsuits brought by LWVUS to challenge executive orders related to voting rights and civic engagement. These are significant wins, although not final.

The first case, in which LWV Charleston joined LWVUS as a local plaintiff, challenged last summer's USCIS rule that banned nonpartisan civic engagement groups from helping to register new citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies. LWVCA volunteers have undertaken this role for years as we explained in an Op-Ed last winter. The District Court of Maryland ruled in LWV's favor based on issues related to the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedures Act. Read more here.

The second LWV lawsuit challenged an executive order that gave the US Postal Service the authority to restrict mail-in voting. This has important national implications for voting rights and the midterm elections. In issuing the preliminary injunction, the District Court of Massachusetts held unequivocally that the federal government has no authority to regulate elections. Read the press release.

The SAVE America Act was introduced and passed the US House in early 2026. The US Senate is expected to take it up after summer recess, and LWV is focusing its advocacy on the US Senate.

Misinformation is spreading about this bill though simplistic sound bites in the media.

LWVUS opposes the SAVE Act bill and the additional documentary hurdles it would present to citizens who register and/or need to change their registration as a result of a move or other life event. The proposed registration and voter ID requirements would be on top of existing voter ID laws already in place in many states, and would be particularly onerous to the 69 million women who have changed their name since birth through marriage and/or divorce; to rural voters; to tribal voters; and to the survivors of natural disasters.

There is no evidence of widespread fraud due to non-citizen voting in state or federal elections. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections.

Click to review talking points compiled by LWV US, posted on our website.

ACTION: Please fill out out LWV's action alert to express your views, or call your Congressional representatives and Senators to register your opinion.

We encourage all to check their voter registration on Vote411.org now, and to encourage family and friends to do the same to ensure that their status is current.

Committee Highlights

Our Environmental and Healthcare Committees have advanced some priority initiatives through the summer.

➡️🪴The Environmental Studies Committee is working with the town of Summerville on a pilot program for Food Scrap collection in Dorchester County. Representatives have recently visited a similar program that was introduced in Beaufort.

Volunteers are needed to help with the pilot program at the Sweet Tea Festival in Summerville on Saturday, Sept 19 with shifts between 10 am -4pm. They will help monitor bins and promote the benefits of municipal composting. If you can help, please email Linda Bosley at lindabosley48@gmail.com.

➡️🏥 The Healthcare Committee has been communicating with and testifying to local school boards concerning the documented decline in SC student vaccination rates, and asking that they take steps to promote child safety through high vaccination rates. They are also developing working relationships with SC Families for Vaccines and the Southern Alliance for Public Health Leadership.

LWVCA's Issue committee members are convening this month for an internal planning workshop on issue advocacy strategies.

We appreciate the new members who have joined or expressed interest in our Environment, Education, Healthcare, or Immigration committees. 👏

• Publication of local candidate information on Vote411 for all tri-county municipal races is slated for September 11, 2026. If you are a candidate or involved with a campaign, please make sure to respond when questions are emailed by our Vote411 team.

• Candidate Forums: We are planning a series of local in-person and virtual forums from late September through mid/late October for School Board races and SC House District races across the tri-county. Specific races, dates, and location details will be announced as they are finalized!

• Voter Services will be contacting member volunteers for voter registration tabling events through Signup Genius. Confirmed so far:

📍 Tuesday, August 18, Fort Dorchester High School ( N Charleston)

📍 Thursday, August 20, Stratford High School (Goose Creek)

📍September 17, Constitution Day, Trident Tech College (N Charleston)

📍September 17, Constitution Day, Judicial Naturalization Ceremony at Pinckney National Historic Site (Mt Pleasant)

📍September 17, Wando High School ( Mt Pleasant)

📍 Tuesday, September 29, Hanahan High School

• Communications is working on voter and election materials, website and social campaigns to provide timely election and voter information.

• Documentary Discussion Group - will resume this fall. Details TBD.

If you're interested in volunteering on any of these efforts, email vote@lwvcharleston.org and we'll get you connected to the right person!

SENDING A SHOUT OUT to the 21 new members who have joined our League since our last membership meeting in June. We hope to get you involved soon, and to welcome you at our upcoming events!

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Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.

LWV of the Charleston Area is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit



Newsletter Editor: Cara Erickson, co-President