September 2026 Edition

In this issue:

• Get Ready to Vote!

• From the League President's Desk

• Message from Voter Services Vice President

• Message from Advocacy Vice President

• Election Protection

• Brookhaven Needs a League Champion

• Voter Services in Action: Appreciation for our amazing volunteers

• Upcoming Events 

GET READY TO VOTE!

Dorit Suffness prepared a new Get Ready to Vote flyer with important election information. Download it from our website and help us share it throughout the community. 

From the President’s Desk

August ended on a high note with our Women’s Equality Day commemoration on August 26. Our audience loved the speakers, and I want to thank Kenda North for putting together an exceptional program and thank you to our volunteers for helping make the event a success. 

Now it’s time to get ready to vote! We’ve got National Voter Registration Day coming up on September 15. With recent news reports about the large number of Texas voters placed on the suspense lists, this day is a great reminder to check your voter registration status, even if you haven’t moved. Voters in suspense can still vote, but they must take action to confirm or update their address. 

Early Giving for North Texas Giving Day is already underway. Your support helps us continue providing trusted, nonpartisan voter education and information throughout Dallas County. 

And don’t miss our September 19 General Meeting on redistricting, moderated by Elaine Campbell, our VP of Voter Services, featuring Dr. Andrea Barreiro, Associate Professor in SMU’s Dedman College of Humanities and Science, Dave Jones of Clean Elections Texas, and Olivia Justice, our VP of Voter Rights. 

There are so many ways to engage this month. Visit our calendar and choose an advocacy event, voter education activity, or League gathering to connect with fellow members. Bring a friend, get involved, and help us defend democracy in Dallas County!

Voting Update: Mail-in Ballots, USPS Rules, and What Dallas Voters Need to Know

As we prepare for the upcoming election, staying informed about voting rules, deadlines, and logistics is essential.

With headlines concerning national postal rules and executive orders circulating, the League of Women Voters of Dallas wants to provide clear, reliable information on what has changed, what has stayed the same, and how you can cast your vote with confidence.

Texas Vote-by-Mail: No Changes to Current Rules

For voters right here in Dallas County, the mail-in ballot process remains entirely unchanged. Texas law governs how and when mail-in ballots are processed, and current state procedures continue as normal.

If you plan to vote by mail, please submit your Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM) as early as possible.

• Submit Early: Do not wait until the last minute to request your ballot.

• Return Your Ballot Promptly: We strongly encourage every mail-in voter to make every effort to get their completed ballot to the county election office at least a week before the deadline to prevent any delivery delays.

• Track Your Ballot: You can verify when your application was received and monitor the progress of your mail ballot by visiting the official state portal via VoteTexas Mail Ballot Tracking or checking directly with the Dallas County Elections Department Tracker.

Critical Priority: Make a Plan to Vote Early

Voting early is one of the most effective ways to ensure your voice is heard while avoiding long lines on Election Day. Early voting starts October 19th!

Dallas County registered voters can cast their ballot early at any designated polling center across the county.

Planning Your Vote: Senior Resources & In-Person Voting

If you are a senior voter, or if you prefer to make a plan to vote in person rather than by mail, the League of Women Voters of Dallas is here to assist you. Navigating polling locations, reviewing acceptable photo IDs, and understanding options can sometimes feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone.

• Check Registration & Guidance: Review nonpartisan voting materials on the League of Women Voters of Texas Website.

• Confirm County Logistics: Look up county details on the Dallas County Elections Portal.

Reach Out to LWV-Dallas

Do you have questions about your specific situation? Need guidance on transportation, accessibility features at the polls, or submitting your application?

Please reach out to the League of Women Voters of Dallas! (214) 688-4125 - Our nonpartisan volunteers are ready to help every eligible voter in our community make their voice heard. 

If you are a senior or for any reason need assistance or have any additional questions about making an in-person voting plan, contact us directly through our office or local chapter channels to get personalized assistance today!

Message from the Advocacy Vice President

The City of Dallas is dealing with a lot of issues, partly because we are the 9th largest city in the US, and we are one of the fastest-growing. If we want it to be a place where we wish to live, we need to speak out on issues as they are being deliberated.   Do you want a data center to be built in your neighborhood? Do you want city hall to be torn down and rebuilt? What will it cost? Will city services be scattered throughout the city? What about upcoming mid-term elections: where will the polling places be? Will there be enough? What about the environment: Are we prepared for the next weather disaster?  Are you pleased with our public schools? What about charter schools and school vouchers?  What about religion in our public schools?  Is Dallas College delivering a quality education?  These are just a few issues that our local elected officials are dealing with. Do you want to have a say?  If so, please take the time to write a Letter to the Editor and sign up to testify before our elected officials. They do listen when we speak.  Don’t wait until an ordinance, ruling, or law is passed before you speak out.  It will be too late then.

Please note that meeting agendas are usually available only a few days in advance of a meeting. You can find the City of Dallas’  meeting times, location, agenda, and details on their calendar.

Wednesday, September 16

9:00 AM, City Council Budget Workshop, Council Chambers, City Hall, 1500 Marilla Street, Dallas, TX, 75201. 

DALLAS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT (DISD) Board Briefing

Why We Care: Dallas ISD educates about 140,000 children, employs more than 20,000 people and oversees a $1.5 billion budget. About one-quarter of families with children in DISD lives below the poverty line. We support policies that improve the quality of education in DISD, strengthens families, and ensures that the district’s budget addresses  community needs. 

When: Thursday’s Sept. 10 at 4 p.m.

Where: 5151 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX

At board briefings, trustees discuss issues and help set the agenda for the next regular board meeting. Members of the public may speak on agenda items only and must register with Board Services by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. 

RESOURCES: 

View the DISD budget: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1784029374/dallasisdorg/wmzshdogcldbizt6yspq/FY26-27AdoptedBudget.pdf

Recordings & agendas of prior meetings: 

https://dallasisd.community.highbond.com/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&id=849

View live meeting broadcasts: dallasisdtx.swagit.com

Election Protection

Volunteer as a Poll Monitor. LWV Texas is proud to be part of the Election Protection Coalition. We need you to serve as an Election Protection Poll Monitor to help safeguard our elections. Trainings start on Sept. 8th and run through Oct. 31st. Register for the training and find more information here.

Questions? please reach out to Kay Lowell, LWVTX EP Coalition Representative, at klowell.lwvgc@gmail.com.

Share Election Protection Resources. Access the 2026 Election Protection Flyers and spread the word about the Election Protection hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, through your newsletters, tabling events, and social media.

Brookhaven Needs a League Champion!

We’re looking for a Volunteer Deputy Registrar to become the League’s regular presence at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus. Ideally, you’re available during the daytime and can commit to tabling three hours a week during the three months leading up to an election. You’ll provide nonpartisan voter education and registration while building an ongoing relationship with Brookhaven students and staff.

Interested? Email Barbara Larkin at larkinbarb@gmail.com

Voter Services in Action

Let’s give a round of applause to our amazing “wranglers”. These dedicated volunteers help make our Voters Guide possible. They track down candidate contact information so we can send our questionnaires, then follow up with candidates to encourage them to respond before the deadline. We’re still on track researching ballot issues and plan to go live with Vote411 on October 5. And we’ll need more assistance to help distribute our printed Voters Guide and Vote411 rack cards throughout the community. Sign up now on our volunteer page!

Diane Tasian

Madge Cruse

Elizabeth Walley

Ruth Alhilali

Norma Arratia

Dorie Cranshaw

Tea French

Donna Miller

Pamela Norman

Daena Ramsey

Karen Raskopf

Leslie Russell

Sarah Minkler

Cynthia Rutherford

League of Women Voters of Dallas

1402 Corinth Street, Room 109