Welcome back to your exclusive, bi-weekly newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Wake County. If someone forwarded this to you and you'd like to become a member, or are interested in learning more, just click here.
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Dear ~~first_name~~,
August is shaping up to be a busy and energizing month for our League. Our committees are hard at work, and we include their latest updates in this newsletter to keep you informed and connected. Remember—all members are warmly invited to attend any committee meetings that spark your interest. Engagement is power, and your participation strengthens our impact.
Each year, we host a signature event around Women's Equality Day. In recognition of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we honor our women elected officials and raise funds to support the work we do all year. We’d love for you to be part of it. This year’s event features Leoneda Inge, WUNC Co-Host of Due South, as our keynote speaker. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get involved, connect with fellow members, volunteer, and support our mission. Whether you attend, sponsor, or bring a friend—we’d love to see you there! Full details are below and available online. The deadline is approaching, so don’t wait!
A heartfelt thank you to Natasha Richmond, Cheryl Tung and the committee co-chairs for pulling together our Annual Report. It offers a clear snapshot of a vibrant, engaged League making a difference. The report is now available online—take a look online (feature and links below) to see the investments you've made and meaningful impact we’ve had together in our community.
If you haven’t already, please update your records: we're officially moving. On August 6th we'll begin setting up our new office at 1001 Wade Ave, Suite 025. During the month of August, you'll notice our mailing address will be updated online and elsewhere. Watch for an Open House coming in September. Thank you for helping us stay connected during this transition. Sign-up here to help us unpack on August 6th!!
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LWV-Wake Voter Services will be registering voters at the John Wall Family Foundation's Family Reunion.
This year’s event will be a celebration of local businesses, entertainment, and community support, featuring a variety of activities, food, games, and resources for families and students.
Saturday, August 9, 2025,
10:00 AM until 2:00 PM
Roberts Park Community Center 1300 E. Martin St.
(You must be logged in as a member) | | |  | |
Women's Equality Day 2025–LWV WAKE Annual Event
LWV-Wake invites individuals and organizations to attend or sponsor its annual Women’s Equality Day celebration. This year’s event is Thursday, August 21, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at All Faiths Chapel, Dix Park, Raleigh.
The keynote speaker is Leoneda Inge, award-winning journalist and co-host of WUNC’s Due South. Tickets available now! This is a great opportunity to invite a friend to learn about the League of Women Voter's in Wake County.
Sponsors wanted
In addition to honoring the Women elected officials who serve Wake County, this event also raises much needed support for our educational programs, voter outreach, and operating expenses. We invite you to become a sponsor at $150, $300, $500 or $1000 levels. To learn more about Leoneda Inge and to register, click on the link below.
Volunteer Shifts have been posted on our LWV-Wake website and we are encouraging all members to sign up for one of the volunteer slots. Most slots are only 30 minutes, so you have plenty of time to circulate and participate: Volunteer during Women's Equality Day Event! You can contact kristenlwv@gmail.com for assistance. It is a great way to support the event.
During the event, we will recognize and honor all women who serve as elected officials in Wake County.
This event is also our major fundraising event of the year, and we hope all members will support the work of your League by attending or purchasing a sponsorship.
Members and non-members are welcome to attend and become sponsors.
Invite a friend!
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As an all-volunteer organization, our work is largely achieved through Committees. Investing your time here is a great way to learn about the work of our League and meet other active League members.
You can review our online calendar anytime for upcoming meetings and other events happening every month.
See Upcoming Meetings and register online. To learn more about LWV-Wake’s current committees or to email a chair/co-chair, go to our Our Work page.
In our last newsletter, we shared an invitation to join the Environment Committee's Plastics Free July pledge. Jackie Giordano's last name was incorrect in the newsletter, our apologies to Jackie for the error. For more information about this and other work of the Environment Committee, please contact Jackie.
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The Women's Rights Committee Videoconference.
The Committee works on a range of issues impacting women's rights including, but not limited to, reproductive choice, the Equal Rights Amendment, child care, employment opportunity equality, and menstrual equity. Committee members investigate North Carolina laws to determine where improvements can be made and where new laws are needed.
Date and Time
Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 3:00 PM until 4:30 PM
Videoconference information will be provided in an email. Free for active members
Register Now
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LWV-Wake Civics Education Committee
Having published the first two pages of Civics Education Resources, the Civics Education Committee is now turning its attention to adding new topics and content. One of these topics will focus on Media Literacy.
In today’s news-saturated environment, it can be challenging to identify and evaluate reliable and accurate news and information sources. Media literacy education can help by providing the tools and skills necessary to be confident and competent media consumers and participate more effectively in our democratic processes.
The Civics Education Committee will be meeting next on Thursday, August 14 @ 1:00 in the new League office. If you are interested in working on this project, please join us!
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N.C. State Board of Elections Registration Repair Project
The NCSBE has issued instructions for voters to check their registrations and has begun a process to provide any missing information. Please look on the list and encourage family and friends to check for their names as well. It is essential that if your name is on the list, you follow the instructions carefully to ensure your voter registration is up to date.
Please share this information in your networks and help us spread the word that voters may need to check their voter registration for accuracy.
We would like to know if League members are on the list. If you find your name, please reach out to communications@lwvnc.org to let us know.
Your vote is your power, so if your name is on the list, please take steps to ensure your information is up to date. https://www.ncsbe.gov/registrationrepair
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We invite you to take a look at our newly published 2024-2025 Annual Report. We are especially proud of our voter outreach efforts during the 2024 General Election. During election season, we surpassed previous records for VOTE411.org usage, as well as voter outreach events. We sincerely appreciate all of those who contributed to the report, as well as all LWV-Wake volunteers and donors. We could not do this important work without your dedication to our mission.
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NCGA Veto Overrides
The NCGA returned last week to attempt to override all fourteen of Governor Stein's vetoes. By Wednesday, both chambers had successfully overridden eight bills, leaving six bills remaining in the House that can be scheduled for a veto vote at any time. These include three anti-DEI bills, repeal of concealed carry, and ICE cooperation bills.
While most of these overrides were passed along party lines, it is notable that there was some bipartisan support for overrides in the House. For a complete review of the action taken on bills, please read NC Newsline's article here.
SB 958 Election Changes
The first hearing for the proposed omnibus election bill took place last Wednesday. The bill contains many changes to our elections, including:
- Ballot Counting & Absentee Voting
- Election Administration Changes
- Voter Registration
- Legal & Procedural Additions
- Expanded Authority of State Board of Elections (this is also included in the mini-budget)
- Uniform Military and Overseas Voters
- Campaign Finance Changes
- Signature Verification
- Training for CBOEs
For an overview of these changes, including privacy concerns due to a proposed change that would require voters to provide their full Social Security number on voter registration forms, please read NC Newsline's article here. LWV will continue to attend these hearings and determine advocacy action, as changes to the bill are expected as it works it way through committees.
The NCGA will resume their long session on August 26th.
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LWVNC invites you to a coalition partner meeting of interest: Emancipate NC, North Carolinians For the People, the People's Parity Project. and Pro-Choice North Carolina are hosting a special Zoom presentation, "State Courts - Why Are They So Important to Our Rights?" on August 14th at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for this informative and engaging webinar to learn more about state courts and how you can educate your networks about their importance. NC State Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs joins us to talk about exactly what happened in her state Supreme Court race in 2024. Then we'll discuss how it could happen again in 2026, and what we can do to prevent a repeat of those efforts to overturn an election.
We will also discuss the importance of state courts, how to evaluate judicial candidates, and how to talk about this issue to your fellow voters.
You can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ejYhEw2sQhOg88stM9ftZA#/registration
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Membership Renewals and Credit Card Concerns
To renew your membership visit the Join page on our website and click "Join and Renew" to access the renewal portal on the LWVUS website. If you'd like to make an additional contribution to LWV-Wake, there is an opportunity to do so in the renewal process. Thank you!
Several members raised concerns about some language in the online renewal process regarding storage of credit card information by ChapterSpot/LWV-US. At the end of the process a statement reads: "By providing your card information, you allow ChapterSpot to charge your card for future payments in accordance with their terms." Many thanks to the Membership team for investigating this and raising our concerns to LWVUS. LWVUS has confirmed their terms include ONLY saving credit card information if you click the automatic renewal option earlier in the process. We understand the statement is confusing and have given feedback to represent our members concerns.
Online renewal streamlines the process; however, if you prefer not to pay online, you are always welcome to mail a check to the office. (While we are still receiving mail at our old office through August, please be sure to update your records with our new address provided elsewhere in this newsletter.)
Thank you for staying engaged with LWV-Wake and for your continued support of the work! Your feedback helps improve LWV processes, and your renewals help you keep the work of the League moving forward. Please continue to reach out with any questions or concerns.
|  | Media placements help us get our voice heard. And being heard helps us make an impact. You can keep up with LWVUS press coverage at the League of Women's Voters Newsroom.
July 29, 2025– LWV Supports Senate Introduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Celina Stewart, Esq., CEO of the League of Women Voters, issued the following statement:
Named in honor of the late civil rights icon and voting rights champion Congressman John Lewis, this bill is not just a tribute, it’s a necessity. The Voting Rights Advancement Act is a direct response to the relentless attacks on our democracy, including recent attempts by states to disturb current representation through mid-cycle redistricting. After a decade of US Supreme Court decisions that gutted key provisions, this bill would restore the Voting Rights Act’s full power and finally put guardrails back in place to stop racial discrimination at the ballot box. Without it, the right to vote remains vulnerable to manipulation and abuse.
|  | | August 2, 1776 - In Philadelphia, most of the 55 members of the Continental Congress signed the parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence.
August 6, 1965 - The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Act suspended literacy, knowledge and character tests designed to keep African Americans from voting in the South. It also authorized the appointment of Federal voting examiners and barred discriminatory poll taxes. The Act was renewed by Congress in 1975, 1984 and 1991.
August 11, 1841 - Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, spoke before an audience in the North for the first time. During an anti-slavery convention on Nantucket Island, he gave a powerful, emotional account of his life as a slave. He was immediately asked to become a full-time lecturer for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society.
| | Gaye Williams, President
League of Women Voters
Wake County
| | | 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. | |