LWV-Wake Update 3/30/2026 | 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. | |
You are cordially invited to League 101, a special event designed to introduce you to the League of Women Voters. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet one another and learn about our organization, activities, and ways you can get involved. We promise an enjoyable and interesting morning in good company. If you have joined LWV-Wake County in the last year, we especially encourage you to attend!
Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
League of Women Voters, Wake County Office
1001 Wade Ave., Raleigh, NC 27605
We look forward to seeing you there!!
Karen Ferguson, Celeste Stanley & Kathy Turnowchyk
Membership Committee Members
| Two upcoming potluck gatherings provide the perfect opportunities to get to know the League and connect with fellow members.
| Meet and Chat: April 22nd, 6-8pm. Join other League members and friends for cocktails at Hearsay (inside Matthews House) in Cary. Cash Bar 6-8pm. Charcuterie and dessert options are available for purchase. Register here.
|  | | WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE
Join us for a Timely Topics panel discussion about Wake County’s water resources and the challenges we face in ensuring the abundance and quality of our water supply.
Timely Topics events are usually in person and happen monthly, with a summer hiatus. They are a great way to meet fellow League members and to better understand key issues.
This month, our speakers are water-quality experts:
Lauren Daniel: DEQ, Division of Water Resources Water Education Programs
Kelsey Sosa: NCSU, Team Lead, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Water Quality
Mitch Woodward: NCSU, Area Specialized Agent, Watersheds and Water Quality
There will be time to meet and mingle before and after the presentations. Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch, and a variety of home-made treats provided by members of the Environment Committee will be available.
| More upcoming events:
LWVNC Position on Citizen Initiative - March 30, 7:00 - 8:00 Statewide Educational Meeting. Led by Gaye Williams and other members of the Action Team
Affordable Housing - April 24: Julie Paul of the Lotus Campaign will speak to the Affordable Housing Committee about the organization's work in Raleigh.
LWV-Wake Annual Meeting for Members - June 16th, 5:30-7:30 PM at the NCSU University Club. Registration opens soon. Mark your calendar!
Women's Equality Day Event - August 26th
Visit our Online Calendar to see more information on upcoming events and register to attend. | LWV-WAKE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | Voter Outreach at local high school performance of SUFFS - April 23-25
| Several members attended SUFFs the Musical in Charlotte. Mary Thompson and President Gaye Williams are pictured above left. Members (pictured above) enjoyed the play and lunch together in Charlotte.
SUFFs Broadway touring play is Shaina Taub's epic musical telling the story of the suffragists as they fight for the women's right to vote. | | The March 26th Timely Topic on Voter Suppression was well attended and provided substantive information on the current issues we are facing that would impact voter rights. Pictured above are the speakers;
Adrienne Kelly, Executive Director, Democracy North Carolina; Sarah Ovaska, Southern Leadership for Voter Engagemen (SOLVE) Senior Communications Strategist, Southern Coalition for Social Justice; Chris Shenton Senior Counsel, Voting Rights, Southern Coalition for Social Justice.
Also pictured are members attending the event. | | On March 28th, Members of LWV-Wake attended NO KINGS Rallies around the area. LWVUS President and LWV-Wake member, Dianna Wynn, spoke at NoKings Durham and later dropped by the Cary event. LWV-Wake volunteers staffed tables to share information, register voters and sign up new members in both downtown Raleigh and Cary. | | LWVNC’s 2026 Advocacy Day
We invite you to join fellow League members at the General Assembly for a morning of civic engagement and legislative meetings.
LWVNC Advocacy Day
Theme: Democracy in Action – Your Voice, Your Power
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Raleigh, NC
All members are encouraged to participate as we advocate for free and fair elections and voting rights during the General Assembly’s short session.
|
LWVNC Statewide Council Meeting - May 1-2 in Durham.
League members from across North Carolina will gather in Durham. Attending this meeting is an opportunity to connect, reconnect, learn from one another, and renew our energy for the important work ahead.
LWV-WAKE has seven seats available for our League. Early bird registration through April 1st.
|  |
To assure that every vote for President counts in every election, we urge the North Carolina Legislature to pass the National Popular Vote Bill, moving our state and the nation closer to making every vote count in the United States.
There are more than 500,000 elected offices in the United States. For all but one of them, the candidate with the most votes wins. The one exception is our one national office – the presidency. To sustain a healthy democracy, every vote for president should count equally. Count all the votes, every vote equal, whoever receives the most votes wins – this is simple and fair.
Join us! Sign the LWVNC petition to make your voice heard.
This is open to non-Leaguers, so please share this link with your networks.
Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of North Carolina.
|
|
|
Come with us to Columbus or join remotely online! Representatives from LWV-Wake will attend the Convention and, as a member, you are welcome and encouraged to attend. The 57th Biennial League of Women Voters (LWV) National Convention will take place from June 25–28, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hilton Columbus Downtown. If a trip to Columbus doesn't work for you, you can attend all of the plenary sessions virtually for a much reduced rate ($150).
This event brings together members to set the organization's agenda, elect leaders, and focus on defending democracy. Registration is open now with EARLY BIRD RATES THROUGH MARCH 31st!
All members are welcome - just register! Please contact President Gaye Williams if you would like to attend as a delegate of LWV-Wake.
|  | LWVUS Sends Letter to Senate Opposing the SAVE Act
LWVUS sent a letter to the US Senate urging members to oppose the SAVE Act, which would require citizenship documentation to register to vote despite the fact that voters in every state are already required to affirm or verify their citizenship status when registering. CLICK FOR MORE |  | Action Alert: Tell Congress Federal Immigration Enforcement Has Gone Too Far
We join LWVUS and LWVNC in this ACTION ALERT regarding escalating federal immigration enforcement actions that violate constitutional rights and undermine democratic accountability. At its core, this issue is not about immigration policy—it is about the protection of constitutional rights, the rule of law, and the principle that no government agency is above accountability. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and lethal force against people exercising their First Amendment rights threatens the foundations of our democracy and demands congressional oversight. The League has a long history of defending civil liberties and civic participation. When constitutional rights are eroded anywhere, they are weakened everywhere. Add your voice by using the LWVUS action tool to contact Congress and demand transparency, investigation, and accountability.
| | Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), which are unlicensed, non-medical Pregnancy Centers, are receiving $19 MILLION in NC state funding with little oversight or accountability. This is taxpayer money meant for legitimate reproductive healthcare.
They are NOT healthcare clinics.
They are NOT regulated or under HIPPA.
They DON’T provide prenatal care.
They MISLEAD people about birth control.
Yet They are NOT audited!
Oversight and regulation are necessary to ensure that taxpayer money is being spent on legitimate licensed and regulated healthcare clinics.
By signing this petition, you request the State Auditor to immediately initiate an audit of all NC’s unlicensed, non-medical pregnancy centers.
| 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. | |