LWV-Wake Update 5/12/2025 | Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-monthly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, just click here.
| In recognition of Memorial Day, there will be no May 26th League Update.
Our next League Update will be sent on June 9th.
|  | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Greetings from LWV of Wake County. There is much to celebrate this month. May is Asian American Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions Asian Americans and Jewish Americans have made to our country. In addition, June 20th marks the 32nd anniversary of the historic National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993.
In the 1980s and 90s, LWV led a campaign to pass and implement the NVRA. They founded the Motor Voter coalition. Along with organizations like the ACLU and NAACP National Voter Fund, LWV co-chaired the coalition to streamline confusing state laws and make the voter registration process more accessible.
Through aggressive grassroots advocacy, the coalition pushed the NVRA toward its passage in 1993. President Clinton, who signed the NVRA into law, gifted his pen to the League, deeming them “fighters for freedom” in the continued fight to empower voters. To learn more about the NVRA, click here.
Please attend our Annual Meeting
We invite ALL members to attend our upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting. If you are a new member, we hope you will attend to learn how to become active with the League. Please scroll down to register.
LWVNC Secures Legal Victory in N.C. Supreme Court Race
On May 6th, The U.S. District Court ruled in favor of LWVNC and acknowledged that it is a violation of citizens' constitutional rights to retroactively change the results of an election and throw out legally cast ballots. From lwvnc.org:
“Yesterday’s ruling is a victory for every North Carolina voter who followed the rules and simply wanted their vote to be counted,” said Jennifer Rubin, president of the League of Women Voters of North Carolina. “The League brought this case to stand up for voters who were unfairly targeted after they followed the rules when they cast their ballots. The court recognized the basic unfairness of throwing out ballots that were cast legally after an election and sent a clear message that these tactics have no place in our democracy.”
To read more about this case, please read the press release here.
On May 7th, Judge Griffin, who had challenged voter's ballots in the N.C. Supreme Court Race, finally conceded to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs, bringing an end to the unresolved contest from the 2024 election.
|  | LWVNC Convention Highlights
LWVNC held their 39th Biennial Convention on May 2-4th in Durham with the theme "Step Into Our Power." During the convention, delegates adopted the 2026-2027 Proposed Budget, bylaws changes, Program, and elected new LWVNC Officers & Board.
Congratulations to LWV-Wake member Cheryl Tung for being elected to the LWVNC Board of Directors!
During the Awards Dinner, LWV of Wake County received two awards: 2025 Outstanding League (over 200 members) and 2025 Outstanding Commitment to the principles of DEI. LWV-Wake Vice President Gaye Williams accepted the awards on behalf of our League.
Convention guest speakers and topics included:
LWVUS President Dianna Wynn, "Defending Democracy in Turbulent Times"
Western Carolina Professor Christopher Cooper, "Politics and Governance in a Purple State"
Ninth NC Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, "Celebrating the Power of Our Stories"
Raleigh City Council Member Christina Jones, Observer Corp Panel Foundation for Action "The Importance of Grassroots Observation"
|  | | Renewal Reminders & Online Membership Renewals
Members receive renewal notices beginning 60 days before membership expiration dates. Any member may renew by credit card, OR choose to save some money in fees (and time!) for your Wake League by setting up a bank transfer, also known as an Electronic Check, as your payment method. To choose this method of payment, here’s what to do:
Log in to https://www.lwvwake.org/ In your member portal, click on Payments, then Payment Methods, then Add Payment Method. Stripe will ask you to connect to your bank account. If you have any questions or problems, please reach out to our Treasurer, Sandra Birckhead, at lwvwaketreasurer@gmail.com.
Please Note: Renewing prior to your membership expiration date will NOT shorten your membership period. Members are encouraged to renew prior to their expiration date to avoid being transferred to inactive status in our database.
|  | | You're Invited to Dram & Draught TOMORROW
Join LWV-Wake members and friends for a gathering at Dram & Draught, in Fenton, Cary, on Tuesday, May 13 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. If you’re new to the League, this is a great way to meet other members and learn how you can get involved.
Depending on the weather, Membership Committee members will be found on the rooftop or on the main floor. Dram & Draught is easily reached from the parking lot at the top of the hill, behind the stores.
No sign-up needed, but if you register, you will receive updates.
Come join the conversation!
|  | Join LWV Members on Thursday, June 5th
Join members of the Membership Committee at Howling Cow Dairy Education Center and Creamery, 100 Dairy Lane, Raleigh on Thursday, June 5, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Bring a friend or come and make new ones and learn more about the League.
Note, the ice cream is card only; they do not accept cash! No sign-up needed, but if you do register, you’ll receive text reminders. We hope you’ll join us!
Questions? Email Pauline at paulinehoulden82@gmail.com
| | |
 | Annual Meeting Tuesday, June 17 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at NCSU University Club
All LWV-Wake members are encouraged to attend the annual meeting to learn election results for our LWV-Wake Board of Directors and 2025-2026 LWV-Wake Annual Budget, as well as recognize outgoing board members. This is also a time to socialize with other League members and discuss League priorities for the coming year.
PLEASE NOTE: Election materials, including the nominating committee report, 2025-2026 LWV-Wake Proposed Budget, and electronic ballot link will be sent via email to EVERY member on May 17th. We encourage members to read the materials and vote electronically prior to the annual meeting.
There will be a cash bar, dinner and program. This year's cost is $45 per person and spouses/guests are invited! To view the menu and to register, please click on the link below:
|  | Timely Topics 2025-2026 Planning Meeting
All Committee Co-Chairs, League Leaders, and interested League members are invited to register for the first planning meeting for the new year’s monthly Timely Topics sessions. The meeting will be in the League office Tuesday, July 15 10:00 a.m. - noon.
Annette Green will be leading the charge for the year as TT Chair and asks that everyone register for the session. Bring ideas to the session for topics and speakers that would be of interest to League members and their guests.
Next year is just around the calendar’s corner so let’s begin planning!
|  | THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED!
Please Support Our Outreach Efforts
We are continuing to ask for financial support to help fund our community outreach/social media contractor for 2025-2026.
In addition, there are financial concerns that stem from our new membership model. Please take a moment to read and understand them here. Please note: You will be asked to log in first, then redirected to the document.
Please head to our General Fund Donation Page to make a tax-deductible donation to LWV of Wake Count and share this message with friends who are interested in Defending Democracy and Empowering Voters! To date, we have raised $1800. We would like to raise an additional $2200. If you can donate even $25, you will assist us in attaining our goal!
Thank you for your continued support of LWV of Wake County!
|  | | ICYMI: SURVEY IS STILL AVAILABLE: Share your thoughts on critical issues facing the nation
NC Senator Thom Tillis sent an email on April 17 asking residents of North Carolina to complete a survey on a variety of national issues. We want to make sure that EVERY resident has an opportunity to share their thoughts with Senator Tillis, so we've included a link below.
|  | Nominating Committee Members Needed
Do you have an interest in assisting a nonprofit organization? Do you have previous nonprofit board experience and/or recruiting skills? LWV-Wake needs YOU! Our nominating committee is responsible for:
- Recruiting potential Board members and committee chairs,
- Assisting the Board with succession planning,
- Overseeing Board self-evaluations.
If interested, please email Nominating Committee Chair Cheryl Tung. | | |
NCGA Crossover Bills of Interest
May 8th was the crossover deadline for bills during this year's NCGA long session. This is the date by which bills must pass at least one chamber (the House or the Senate) to be eligible for consideration during the current session.
Budget and tax bills are an exception to this rule, and lawmakers also have ways of getting around the deadline and rules, such as gutting and replacing an eligible bill with a new policy, or adding policy proposals into the state budget.
NC Newsline recently published a list of several bills of interest that made crossover. You can read about them here. | Looking for information from a past newsletter? Previous League Updates can now be viewed on our website's home page. Look for the "League Updates" blue tab on the top menu.
Thank you for continuing to support the League of Women Voters of Wake County.
Sincerely,
Helen Zimmerman
President | | The League of Women Voters of Wake County is a designated 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization by the IRS. Donations and membership dues are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. | |