LWV-Wake Update 5/26/2026 | 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.
There is a lot to share today.
Don't miss a beat, especially the Action Alerts!
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All members are encouraged to attend.
Register for the June 16, 2026 LWV-Wake Annual Membership Meeting!
Join other members and guests for our annual membership meeting. Thanks to generous donors, we've been able to reduce the cost for this year's event to only $30. We hope you'll join us to socialize with fellow League members, give input to the Board on priorities for the coming year, and hear from our special guest speaker, Hilary Harris Klein, Senior Counsel, Voting Rights Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Click here to register or find the calendar event on June 16, 2026!
Registration deadline for the meeting is noon on June 11, 2026.
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Whether or not you can attend the Annual Meeting, be sure to cast your ballot no later than June 16 at 10 AM for the Board of Directors and 2026-27 budget. Find the information in an email from May 8, 2026, or on the Annual Meeting calendar event. All ballots must be submitted electronically.
Note that a login is required to vote and the online system will allow each member to complete only one ballot.
The League wants to hear from you! Share your ideas with LWV-Wake leadership through the 2026 Membership Survey. You'll find it on the Annual Meeting event page or simply click on this link: May 2026 Member Survey. | | We have two positions available on our Leadership Team to help advance our mission. Take a minute to review the positions and reach out if you are interested in learning more.
We have a great Leadership Team in place and are looking forward to getting some more members involved.
If you are interested, or if you have someone to recommend contact us at:
| Please mark your calendar and join us on May 29 at 12:30, via ZOOM, for a special presentation hosted by the Affordable Housing Committee featuring staff and leaders from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro based nonprofit PeeWee Homes.
Presenters will share insights and information that will be valuable to our members. We encourage everyone to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what this organization is doing to address Affordable Housing. |  |
Join Us for a potluck brunch! Two spaces available. The Membership Committee is hosting a potluck brunch in Wake Forest on Saturday, May 30th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take advantage of this chance to get acquainted in a member's home with stimulating conversation and good food. Any member may attend. It's a great way to connect and learn what has drawn others to join, especially if you're new. We keep these events small - just the number that fit around the host's table. If you are interested, please register today! Here's how it works: The host provides an entree; those attending bring an item to share. After you sign up, host Celeste Stanley will send you an email with the address, parking info, the entree they're providing, and suggestions for what you might bring.
Membership Committee Annual Potluck Lunch
If you are interested in learning more about the Membership Committee and our work to engage members across Wake County, please attend our potluck luncheon on Friday, June 5th in Cary.
This will be an opportunity to hear the year's highlights and participate in planning for the upcoming year.
For more information or to register use the online calendar. We hope to see you!
We hope you will join us.
|  | The Timely Topics annual planning meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 3 from 10 to noon in the conference room at the LWV-Wake office on Wade Avenue All are welcome but we particularly hope the Chairs of the various committees will be able to attend.
Please register if you plan to be there and be prepared to discuss your committee's ideas for a Timely Topic in the coming year.
|  | | League of Women Voters of Wake County is a Planning Committee partner with WakeUP Wake County to promote the 2026 ADU Sustainability Tour. This is a city-wide open house event celebrating thoughtfully designed, energy efficient, and context sensitive small-scale housing built after Raleigh's 2020 text change allowing the construction of such housing units.
The tour will feature Accessory Dwelling Units (detached, attached, garage conversions and internal units) and Tiny Homes.
The tour will take place on Saturday, June 6th, with a rain date of June 20th.
For more details visit wakeupwakecounty.org. Click to Register for the tour at WakeUP Wake County.
LWV volunteers are needed to help Staff ADU homes on the tour. Contact Liz Simon Bryant if interested.
|  | | This is inspired by the recent trips to the Suffs musical and is open to all LWV-Wake League members. We will read and discuss A Woman’s Crusade: Alice Paul and the Battle for the Ballot written by Mary Walton.
The original Broadway version of Suffs can be seen on PBS if you are a passport member.
In 1907, a scholarship took Alice Paul to England, where she developed a passionate devotion to the suffrage movement. Upon her return to the United States, Alice became the leader of the militant wing of the American suffrage movement. Calling themselves "Silent Sentinels," she and her followers were the first protestors to picket the White House. Alice Paul wrote the Equal Rights Amendment which, though fully ratified and recognized by the US President as the law of the land, it has yet to be officially published in the Constitution.
Attendees will be responsible for their own tab. Though not available in local libraries, discounted books can be obtained from Abebooks.com and other online sources.
SAVE THE DATE:
LWV-Wake Women's Equality Day Fundraising Event - August 26. Registration opens May 25th. This is a signature event for us and always a rewarding and fun evening with local area leaders and members.
National Voter Registration Day - Sept 15. Contact Kathy Thompson for more information.
Election Hero Day - October 20. More details to come. |  | |
LWV Nationwide Day of Action.
This event has a renewed energy given the recent Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision's impact on the Voting Rights Act. On August 8, 2026, Leagues across the country will execute a local Day of Action in honor of the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Nationwide, local Leagues will make our contribution to the Unite and Rise 8.5 campaign goal of activating 8.5 million voters before November.
LWV-Wake will conduct a Voter Registration drive in low turn-out neighborhoods. Sign-up now if you're interested, no commitment required right now. Help our League make this happen!
|  | Women's Equality Day Event - August 26th REGISTER SOON
Join us for this special annual event as we celebrate and recognize the leadership, service, and impact of all women elected officials serving Wake County. This year’s theme, “Women Lead the Way,” highlights the vital role women play in guiding our communities forward and shaping a stronger future for all.
Women’s Equality Day also commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, which secured women’s right to vote—a milestone that continues to inspire civic engagement and leadership today.
More details will be shared soon. Registration open soon—we hope you’ll join us for this inspiring celebration!
| Members gathered for some social time at the Howling Cow Creamery. The membership committee hosts events throughout the year for members to get to know each other and learn more about how to get involved to help us meet our mission. |
We had excellent presentations in both March and April. Both can be found on our YouTube channel along with many other Timely Topics presented during the 2025-2026 year. Thanks to all who planned, organized, and attended these events.
Timely Topics (TT) March 26: The Impact of the SAVE Act on Voting Rights hosted by the Women’s Rights Committee, Terri Ring and Kristen Howard
TT April 23: “Water, Water Everywhere: How Sustainable is Wake County’s Water Supply” hosted by Environment Committee, Jackie Giordano and Jeri Gray.
| Calling all ideas for voter outreach!
The Voter Services team is making plans for the rest of the year. Please share your ideas for places where we might conduct Voter Outreach/Registration.
These will be shared with our Voter Services Chair and Voter Outreach leads as they plan our next events.
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Action Alert: Contact your Legislator re: Early Voting Access
Action Alert: Public Comment Period Open on Proposed NC Photo ID Rule Changes
The League of Women Voters of North Carolina is encouraging North Carolinians to submit public comments regarding proposed rule changes from the North Carolina State Board of Elections that could make it easier to reject an absentee voter's ballot. Please take five minutes to submit a public comment.
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Speak Up for Campus Voting Access
The Wake County Board of Elections will decide early voting locations for the upcoming election at its June 12 meeting. Wake County residents have an opportunity to make their voices heard by submitting public comments regarding early voting site selection now through 4pm on June 11th.
The League of Women Voters of Wake County believes NC State’s campus is a critical early voting location. An on-campus voting site makes participation more accessible for the more than 50,000 students, faculty, and staff who learn and work there, many of whom may face transportation or scheduling barriers to off-campus voting. Campus voting also helps foster lifelong civic engagement by making participation visible, convenient, and accessible for young voters. We invite League members and the broader community to speak up in support of keeping NC State as an early voting location.
Public comments may be submitted through the Board’s online comment portal now through June 11 at 4:00 p.m.
SUBMIT COMMENTS HERE
Alternatively, individuals may provide comments in person during the June 12th 4 pm meeting held at the Wake County Board of Elections Operations Center, 1200 North New Hope Road, Raleigh. The meeting agenda can be found here.
| The City of Raleigh has released its proposed FY2027 budget, outlining funding priorities and investments that shape the services our community relies on every day, from public safety to transportation, parks, housing, and infrastructure. Review the City’s Budget in Brief here: FY 27 Budget in Brief
Why does this matter now? At the same time, North Carolina lawmakers are advancing a proposed constitutional amendment that could give the General Assembly authority to limit local property tax increases, potentially affecting how cities like Raleigh fund essential local services in the future. Learn more about the proposal and its potential implications here.
Staying informed about both local budget decisions and state policy proposals is an important part of civic engagement.
| 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. | |