Giving is not just about making a donation.
It is about making a difference.
– Kathy Calvin, CEO, UN Foundation
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From the League President |
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The League of Women Voters is one of the very few national volunteer grassroots organizations that inspires a high level of commitment from its members. This newsletter is filled with our all-volunteer efforts to help voters navigate the upcoming local election. We are dedicated to expanding our voter outreach and voter education efforts with each successive election to strengthen our democracy by making it more inclusive.
To help with these efforts, we are counting on you to financially support the League during our annual appeal, if you haven’t already done so. I am also asking you to make a deliberate effort to double the impact of your gift by submitting a matching gift request to your employer. Most employers offer matching gift programs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility goal. I will be happy to provide you with any necessary information to complete the match. If your employer does not offer a matching program, you can approach the Human Resources department and request they start one. Most companies, like USAA, even allow their retirees to participate in their matching program. It is a great way to double the impact of your gift to support your cause – our participatory democracy.
Madhu Sridhar, President
League of Women Voters of the San Antonio Area
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Municipal Election in May |
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Election Day | Saturday, May 1, 2021
Early Voting | Monday, April 19–Tuesday, April 27
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Resources for the Informed Voter |
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Meet The Candidates
Organized by the League’s Voter Service Committee, the League's virtual candidate forums for the mayor and city council positions are kicking into gear for the May 1 municipal elections. Several of the races have so many candidates that their forums will be divided into two sessions. All forums will be available live on Zoom and posted on our YouTube channel the next day. Links to the candidate forums and up-to-date information will be available on the League's website close to the day of each forum.
Forum Schedule
* March 22 – District 2 race: Parts 1 and 2 can be viewed on the
* April 6 – District 1 race: 6:00–7:00 p.m.
* April 10 – Mayoral race: first half of the candidates, 10:30–11:30 a.m.; second half, noon–1:00 p.m.
* April 13 – District 4 race, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
* April 14 – District 6 race, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
* April 15 – District 5 race: first half of the candidates, 6:00–7:00 p.m.; second half, 7:30–8:30 p.m.
* April 19 – District 3 race: first half of the candidates, 6:00–7:00 p.m.; second half, 7:30–8:30 p.m.
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Why Local Elections
Are Important
Because voter turnout for local elections is usually low, the League’s Community Outreach Committee has produced two new voter education resources to generate interest in governance and elections at the municipal level to encourage voter turnout. The first new resource, available in English and Spanish, is a trifold brochure that informs voters of the ways city government affects their day-to-day lives, as well as of the responsibilities and powers of key city government positions. Deadlines and other essential information for getting ready to vote by mail or in person are also included. Printed copies of Local Elections Affect You! and ¡Las elecciones locales le afectan a usted! are being distributed across the city; electronic copies are available to download here.
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The second resource is a deck of presentation slides, in PDF format, titled Vote Local, that offers voters a more expansive exploration of city government, the upcoming municipal elections, why voting in local elections is in one’s best interest, how to get ready to vote, and how to be an active participant in city government beyond voting. The slide deck is useful to everyone, from the person who has never before voted in a municipal election to those who would never dream of missing one. This self-study resource, which includes links to many useful websites for further information, will be available next week on the LWVSA publications page.
Updated versions of additional voter education brochures, such as Steps to Voting By Mail / Como Votar Por Correo, Voting Information for College Students, Texas Voters’ Bill of Rights / Declaración de Derechos Electorales en el Estado de Texas, and more, are available here.
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Ballot Propositions
On April 20, the League will host a virtual panel discussion at 6:00 p.m. on the two propositions on the May ballot, featuring speakers advocating for and against each proposition.
Proposition A proposes a change to the city charter that would allow the money raised by issuing bonds for “public works” to be used to finance affordable housing. Under the current charter, these funds are restricted to be used only for infrastructure and other permanent public facilities.
Proposition B proposes to repeal local authority for collective bargaining with the San Antonio Police Officers Association. It would remove the authority (awarded in a 1974 vote) of the San Antonio Police Officers Association to negotiate wages, benefits and policies with the city.
A full explanation and analysis of the two propositions is available in the Voters Guide and at VOTE411. Be on the lookout for an email with more information about the panelists and how to register.
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VOTE411 is Live
In addition, the League's electronic voters guide, vote411.org, is now available with information about the candidates and propositions posted. If you are not sure how you are going to vote, this is a great tool. San Antonio public libraries will have the printed Voters Guide available soon.
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Vote by Mail
If you are eligible to vote by mail, please take advantage of it. By submitting your ballot by mail, you take yourself out of the lines at voting centers, reducing the wait time for others, and reducing your and others' potential exposure to COVID-19.
Last day to apply to vote by mail (depends on how you deliver it)
April 20*
This is the last day the Bexar County Elections Office can receive a mailed application for a vote-by-mail ballot for the May 1st election. The deadline to deliver an application to the Elections office in person is April 16.
*The Elections Office DOES NOT recommend waiting until this date. Turnaround time to produce the ballot and delays in mail delivery can affect timely receipt of the ballot by the voter.
You can track the status of your mail-in ballot. To check where your ballot is in the process, you have to enter your last name and birthdate, and then supply either your driver or state ID number or the last four digits of your social security number.
You can drop your completed ballot off at the Bexar County Elections Office at 1103 S. Frio Street, only on Election Day, May 1, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. You will be asked to show an acceptable ID when you drop it off.
If you change your mind about voting by mail and want to vote in person, you can surrender the mail-in ballot when you vote at a polling center. If you forget to bring your ballot, you can still vote a regular ballot, but it will require additional work on the part of the poll worker, which will extend the time it takes you to vote.
The League has produced a brochure that provides information on voting by mail in Bexar County. The Steps to Voting by Mail brochure is available in English and Spanish at the League home page. If you have specific questions about voting by mail, you can also visit the Voter Toolbox > Vote by Mail page at the League website for additional information.
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Voting in Person
You can vote at any polling location in Bexar County during early voting or on Election Day. Visit the Bexar County Elections Department website for polling locations and times of operation during early voting and on Election Day.
There are eight days allotted for early voting for the municipal election. The early voting period does include a weekend, but the voting centers will be open on Saturday, April 24, only. The centers will not be open on Sunday, April 25. During the last three days of early voting (Saturday, April 24, Monday, April 26–Tuesday, April 27), the voting centers will be open 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.)
The Election Day sites will be posted as soon as early voting is over.
If you are voting in person, be sure to bring an acceptable ID with you, along with hand sanitizer, if you have it. For your protection and the protection of others, wear a mask.
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* Last day to register to vote – Thursday, April 1
* First day of early voting – Monday, April 19
* Last day for Elections office to receive application for ballot by mail – Tuesday, April 20
* Last day of early voting – Tuesday, April 27
* Election Day – Saturday, May 1
* Last day for Elections office to receive your ballot and have it counted, if hand delivered – 7 p.m., Saturday, May 1
* Last day for Elections office to receive your ballot and have it counted, if mailed – postmarked by 7 p.m., Saturday, May 1, and received by 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 3
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Your Financial Support of the League is Critical, No Foolin’ |
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About 80 percent of your dues dollars go to the League’s state and national organizations, leaving little here in San Antonio to pay for the local League’s educational activities. It is your generous donations that make the League’s Voters Guide, forums, and educational pamphlets and fliers possible. In other words, your donation is critical.
The League’s annual fundraising campaign is underway. To those members and friends of the League that have already given, we thank you for your generous donations. For those who haven’t donated yet, please help us reach our goal. We make it easy! Just click here and you can help the League accomplish great things in San Antonio! Remember, DEMOCRACY is worth supporting. The League is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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Big Change on the Horizon |
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We have grown in the number and scope of voter education programs we offer, in the breadth of our community outreach, and in our member numbers. These happy circumstances bring challenges though, primarily how to manage and coordinate our work effectively, customize our messaging to various voter groups, optimize volunteer time, and continue to expand our efforts efficiently in the community.
We are researching various constituent relationship management (CRM) database systems to find the one that fits our needs the best. Our aim is to use the system
as a solution for event management,
membership database, fundraising, and email, and have interviewed representatives from several
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companies who offer solutions that bring all of these activities under one umbrella accessible through our website.
We are looking for volunteers to join this effort. You do not have to have technical expertise or webmaster skills for this effort, but as with most computer-based efforts, they are helpful skills to have. But, if you enjoy creating something from the ground up or enjoy logic games or enjoy managing and organizing, this could really be fun.
If you are interested in volunteering or want more information, please contact Andrea MacRae via email or at 210-819-0419. The time commitment would be about 2 hours per week.
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Crowdfunding. What's this? |
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Curious about crowdfunding, what it is, and how to get started? Here is your opportunity to participate in a one-hour, introductory training session for League members on April 14, at 6:00 p.m., hosted by Senior Planet, an affiliate of AARP. Of course, the Development Committee hopes that you will use your new skills to help us raise money for the League, but whatever your motivation is, we would love for you to join us. Learning together is always more fun! To attend the training session, please RSVP and a link will be sent to you shortly before the training.
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Welcome To Our Newest Members! |
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Michelle Scherer
Virginia Scherer
Monica Garza
Margaret Joseph
Lauren Deal
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Ricardo Garza
Virginia Vaillancourt
Kathijo Feder
Lloyd Potter
Bethany Bohall
Leslie Meenan
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Patricia Smothers
Liz Lennon
Donna Pereira
Diana Rintala
Catherine Carr
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Thanks also to all of our renewing members! |
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