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THE VOTER
May 2020
Message from the Leadership Team
On April 18th, LWV-Texas hosted its first ever virtual League convention. In the Convention Report that was posted in the May 2020 issue of Action News!, our own Janice Zitelman was noted as having " most succinctly captured the themes in the evaluations: 'Despite the lengthiness it was productive, stimulating and encouraging.'"

As we prepare to host our first ever virtual annual meeting on May 21st, may we too achieve high marks for a "productive, stimulating and encouraging" meeting!
Inside this issue...
  • "Zooming" to our Annual Meeting, May 21
  • "Zoom" Happy Hour, May 14
  • 2020 Election Dates
  • Are You Registered to Vote?
  • Vote by Mail
  • Voters Guide and Vote 411
  • From LWVTX... "Texas Counties Improve Election Websites"
"Zooming" to our Annual Meeting, Thursday, May 21
Our Annual Membership Meeting, the most important of the year, is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st. We now plan to meet in the safety of our own homes via Zoom, a widely-used telecommunications platform.

The meeting will kick off at 5:30 with "social" time, so bring your beverage of choice and catch up with what your LWV friends have been doing since we last met. The business portion of the meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. As always, guests are welcome. This is a great time for them to learn what we're all about.

Please let us know whether you plan to attend so we can be sure to have a quorum present. You may respond to Julie Sentell by email addressed to julie.sentell@me.com or by phone or text to 325-201-7337.

As mentioned in last month's issue of The Voter , we will elect Leadership Team members, approve a budget and adopt a local program for next year, present bylaws revisions for approval by the members, and transact such other business as may be needed. 

Please note this meeting on your calendar and watch your email later in the month for information and the link to the Zoom meeting.
"Zoom" Happy Hour, Thursday, May 14
As a trial run for the annual meeting and to have some fun reconnecting and catching up with each other, we plan to meet for "Zoom" happy hour on Thursday, May 14th, at 5:30 p.m . "W e'll provide the Zoom, and you bring whatever makes you happy!" (Thanks to Janis Richardson of LWV Lavaca County for those clever words!) Watch your email next week for the link. "See" you there!
2020 Election Dates
Primary Runoff Election: Tuesday, July 14
Last day to register to vote: Monday, June 15
Early voting begins: Monday, July 6
Early voting ends: Friday, July 10


Local Elections: Tuesday, November 3
Local elections in Bandera , Blanco , Gillespie , Kendall , and Kerr Counties have been rescheduled to Tuesday, November 3rd. Contact your county election official for further information. The last day to register to vote in local elections and the early voting dates are the same as for the General Election shown below.

General Election: Tuesday, November 3
Last day to register to vote: Monday, October 5
Early voting begins: Monday, October 19
Last day to apply for ballot by mail: Friday, October 23 (NOTE: application must be received by this date, not postmarked)
Early voting ends: Friday, October 30

You may also visit the LWV-Hill Country's website at League of Women Voters-Hill Country Texas for dates, voting locations, and other helpful information.
Are You Registered to Vote?
Here's how to register in Texas.
  1. Check your voter registration status at votetexas.gov
  2. Voters who have moved to a new address within the same county or changed their name while remaining in the same county can update their information online.
  3. New voters or voters who move to another county may use the League's VOTE411.org voter registration tool or print a voter registration application, then fill it out, sign it, stamp it, and mail it or turn in to your county election office. It must be mailed to the county election office, not to the Secretary of State's office.
  4. Voter registration applications can be found at your library, government offices, or high school! Fill it out, sign it, and mail it in! 
  5. No printer? No problem! You may fill out a voter registration application and have it mailed to you at register2vote.org or from the Secretary of State here. 


Be sure to update your voter registration if you have...
  • Moved
  • Changed your name
  • Not voted in the last four years

(from https://my.lwv.org/texas/voting-elections/register-vote )
Vote by Mail
The League of Women Voters of Texas is encouraging eligible voters to apply to vote by mail in the comfort and safety of their own home!

For the July 14th primary runoff election, applications must be received (not postmarked) by Thursday, July 2, 2020. We encourage you to apply now!

Who is eligible?
  • 65 years or older
  • Sick or disabled*
  • Out of the county during early voting and election day 
  • In jail but otherwise eligible to vote

*Sec. 82.002 of the Texas Election Code states, in part:
"DISABILITY. (a) A qualified voter is eligible for early voting by mail if the voter has a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter's health. ..." 

The Centers for Disease Control lists  People Who Are at Higher Risk for Severe Illness .

Questions or concerns? Please contact the Secretary of State at  elections@sos.texas.gov  or Texas Voter Protection at 800.252.VOTE(8683) or your  county election official.

To obtain a ballot by mail:

Even if you request an application from the Secretary of State's office, you must mail it to the county election official in the county where you are registered to vote.

For complete information and tips for filling out the application, please visit the LWVTX Vote by Mail page, or for questions or concerns, p lease contact the Secretary of State by email at   elections@sos.texas.gov  or call 800.252.VOTE(8683).
Voters Guide and Vote 411
Be informed! Compare candidates!
Find what is on your ballot!

It is easy to Be a Texas Voter with the League's famous nonpartison Voters Guide, available in print or online at VOTE411.org.  It is the ideal tool to prepare yourself to vote.

With VOTE411.org , you are able not only to compare the candidates for each race, but also to create your own personalized ballot. Simply compare candidates and mark the candidate you plan to vote for in each election. Review all the races and choose all your candidates. Then click finish to print your personalized ballot.

  • The 2020 Texas Primary Election Runoff Voters Guide online VOTE411.org (available by July 1)

  • The 2020 Texas Primary Election Voters Guide in English
 
  • The 2020 Texas Primary Election Voters Guide in Spanish

Please share the League's nonpartisan Voters Guide with your friends and family and visit the LWV-Hill Country website  for more local voting and election information.
From LWVTX...
'Texas Counties Improve Election Websites --
Upgrades Still Needed for Safe and Secure Elections"
"The League of Women Voters of Texas conducted its fifth survey of  Texas county websites   in late February and early March 2020. The League celebrates a tripling of outstanding websites in the Texas Primaries when compared to the Nov. 2019 review! The League reviewers found 58 “outstanding” and 37 “very good” county election websites out of 254 counties in Texas." Congratulations to Gillespie and Kendall Counties for achieving "outstanding" status.

To read a summary of the findings or to see the full report, click here .
Mark Your Calendars
Thursday, May 14 - "Zoom" happy hour
Thursday, May 21 - LWV-Hill Country annual membership meeting
Thursday, July 4 - Independence Day Parade in Fredericksburg
Tuesday, July 14 - Primary Runoff Elections
Friday, August 21 - Gillespie County Fair Parade in Fredericksburg
Wednesday, August 26 - 19th Amendment Centennial Commemoration Ceremony in Fredericksburg, followed by Ladies Brunch
Tuesday, November 3 - General Election
Join Us!
Be a member of the League; we invite you to join us!  A membership form can be found on our website or you may contact Julie Sentell, Membership Coordinator, at  julie.sentell@me.com .  

Our League’s annual dues are $60 for an individual or $85 for two in a household, and $5 for student memberships.  Dues are prorated from January. Please include your name(s), address, email address, and phone number. Make your check payable to LWV-Hill Country Texas and mail to LWV-HC, PO Box 290303, Kerrville, TX 78029-0303.  Join the League and help make democracy work.
 
And consider giving a membership to a student, as they need only be 16 years of age to join.
League of Women Voters-Hill Country Texas
Leadership Team
Treasurer : Mary Ellen Summerlin
Membership Coordinator: Julie Sentell
Voters Service:  Jeanette Ruark
Webmaster : Cathy Learoyd
Members-at-large : Bunny Bond, Alicia Boyett, Maggie Megee, Kat Walker
President’s email (presidentlwvhc@gmail.com) : Cathy Learoyd
Facebook Administrator: Kat Walker
Stay Connected

The LWV-Hill Country welcomes your questions! Post to our Facebook page or submit questions via e-mail to  presidentlwvhc@gmail.com
About the League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters is a local, state, and national nonpartisan organization.  

Please visit the LWV-Texas state website,  my.lwv.org/texas .   There you will find more voter information and the League positions on a variety of issues.  The League develops its positions after study and consensus.

The LWV-Texas position on the issue of human trafficking in Texas: The League of Women Voters of Texas is opposed to all forms of domestic and international human trafficking of adults and children, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking.  We consider human trafficking to be a form of modern-day slavery and support measures to prevent the use of force, fraud or coercion to exploit a person for sexual or labor purposes, to prosecute traffickers and to protect victims. 
 
For a free, four-hour TEA continuing education credit course on issues of human trafficking, go to https://lwvedu.expertlearning.net . Teachers, take note of this!   This is the online course for which we received the state award.

 The national League, LWVUS,  is actively working to influence public policy through education and advocacy.  Visit lwv.org and see the range of issues from voter rights, voter turnout, reforming money in politics, and defending the environment.
League of Women Voters - Hill Country Texas
presidentlwvhc@gmail.com
www.lwvhillcountrytexas.org