August 2026 Edition

In this issue:

• From the President's Desk

• Join us for the Women's Equality Day Celebration

• Message from our Advocacy Committee

• 100 days to the Midterm Elections!

• Upcoming Meetings 

From the President's Desk

This month commemorates two historic occasions in the long struggle for American democracy. We honor the courageous women who spent more than 70 years marching, organizing, petitioning, and refusing to give up until the 19th Amendment was ratified. Their determination changed our Constitution and expanded the promise of democracy for generations of women. 

But the 19th Amendment could not, in itself, fulfill that promise. For many women of color, especially in the South, literacy tests, poll taxes, threats of losing their homes and jobs, coercion, and violence made voting dangerous or simply out of reach. It took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to remove many of those barriers and bring our country closer to the promise of equal voting rights. 

The story of women’s suffrage isn’t about one or two victories. It’s about continually expanding who has a voice in our democracy. 

If we are to judge political experiments by centuries, rather than decades, then how are we doing? 

 In many ways, the answer is encouraging. Women are now the nation's most reliable voters. More women than ever are earning college degrees, leading businesses and nonprofits, serving in public office, and helping shape the future of their communities. Those achievements didn't happen by chance. They grew from the simple but powerful idea that when women have an equal voice at the ballot box, they also have a greater voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. 

But history also reminds us that progress is not permanent. Rights won by one generation must be protected by the next. Today, challenges to voting access, voter list maintenance, fair representation, and women’s ability to make decisions about their own lives remind us that democracy requires constant care.

The League of Women Voters was founded in the wake of the 19th Amendment because its leaders understood that winning the right to vote was only the beginning. More than a century later, our mission remains the same: to empower voters, defend democracy, and ensure that every eligible voter has an equal opportunity to participate. As we mark these anniversaries, let's honor the women who came before us not only by remembering their courage, but by continuing their work.

Speak Up on Dallas' Budget

One big item on the agenda for Dallas City Council in August will be the budget. Our position on the city’s budget process supports early public input on budget priorities, efforts to build residents participation skills, and transparency. 

If there’s an issue you care about, now’s the time to speak up. Share your personal thoughts and opinions at budget town halls, Dallas City Council meetings, or write a Letter to the Editor at the Dallas Morning News. 

Our League’s values and what we stand for are outlined in the League of Women Voters of Dallas Issues Statements. 

You may cite a League position statement using its wording, but your testimony or letter should reflect your own voice, not the League’s. That means you can’t identify yourself as a League member. Only the President, or someone the President has authorized, may speak officially on behalf of LWVD.

Whether you testify or have a Letter to the Editor published, we want to know about it. So please let us know. Send a copy of your Letter or Testimony to advocacy@lwvdallas.org. 

Check out the LWV Dallas Events Calendar for upcoming Zoom calls where expert presenters will offer pointers about how to create an effective message when writing a Letter to the Editor for Dallas Morning News. Join us on September 8th . Our featured presenter will be Ann Zimmerman, former Staff Reporter for Wall Street Journal and Recipient of the LWVD’s Meritorious President’s Award.

Hello volunteers

We are within 100 days to the Midterm Elections!

Here’s a timeline so you can see when to look at the volunteer page. All the Vote411 opportunities are there now.

Voter services opportunities show up as needed:

Ongoing Voter registration and education

Aug. 1 - 31 Community Survey

Aug 17 – 31 Jurisdiction Survey

Sep 10 – 25 Candidate wrangling

Oct. 8 – 16 Voter Guide distribution

Oct. 19 – 30 Early Voting

Nov. 3 Election Day

The community survey team calls all recipients of the Voter Guides and rack cards. This team verifies the distribution details and quantities. We use spreadsheets and a basic How To.

The jurisdiction survey team begins searching websites for candidate, bond and proposition information once the filing deadline is reached which is August 17 for this election. Occasionally a phone call to a City Secretary, or similar, is needed.  We use spreadsheets and a basic How To.

The team of candidate wranglers reach out to the candidates to verify the information for the Voter Guide/Vote411 before the questions go out. They also reach out once the Vote411 questions have been sent out. We use spreadsheets and a Handbook.

The Distribution Day will be at the Oak Lawn Library. Volunteers will have a week to complete deliveries so the material is in place in time for Early Voting.(Large deliveries will be handled by courier again.)

You will find more information on the volunteer page.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at volunteer@lwvdallas.org.

In League,

Diane Tasian, Director of Volunteers

League of Women Voters of Dallas

1402 Corinth Street, Room 109