Public Policy

Get Ready to Vote 

Election Day is November 5th

  • Pick a date, time, and place to vote. If possible, vote early Oct 21 – Nov 1.
  • Research every candidate and measure on your ballot: make informed choices by comparing candidates based on their stances on issues, resumé, and endorsements.
  • Review and print your ballot. If you live in Harris Co, go to https://www.harrisvotes.com/
  • Make sure you vote all the way down your ballot; get to know your elected officials at every level of government.
  • Your vote matters for more than electing the President.

PUBLIC POLICY

Adopting a Library through League of Women Voters:
Leads to registering voters and getting out the vote

In her own words…….

I’ve enjoyed participating in the League of Women Voters “Adopt a Library” program to increase voter turnout.  I had not realized that Texas law requires public libraries to offer mail-in voter registration materials in the run-up to elections. Sure enough, when I went to my assigned Hillendahl neighborhood library, which is very near my home, they were tucked into an obscure, unlabeled corner.

The wealth of colorful materials provided by the LWV inspired me to break out some long-retired bulletin board skills. The bulletin board I created called attention to the colorful how-to pamphlets and forms in four languages. I even found a small flag and some attention-getting red, white, and blue tinsel!

The next day, I returned to see what kind of interaction had occurred; hmmm, hardly any. I conferred with the librarians about busy times at that branch, then hit up a VDVR I had met recently. We teamed up twice a week for an hour. We checked with the library patrons to see if they were registered and helped those who needed to register. We also distributed information about rides to the polls, early voting locations, and access to information about candidates on the ballot. It was a really rewarding experience, and I felt it benefited my neighborhood.

Cathy Urquhart

Thank you, Cathy! I am so glad you said “Yes” to adopting a library. We must also thank Cathy for working during the election. She told me that she “got fired up and got myself hired as a deputy election clerk for November 5!”                                                                        

Georgia Kimmel, Public Policy Chair

AAUW Public Policy Work

AAUW’s public policy work connects and rallies advocates at the local, state, national, and global levels to empower women and girls. At the national level, our priority is to remove bias from education, fight for fair pay and economic equity, and to advance women in leadership.

Learn more about these national positions and advocacy work on major issues by going to our national website https://www.aauw.org/  A nonpartisan guide about key gender equity issues is available at https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2024/06/Its-My-Vote-2024-Voter-Issue-Guide-English.pdf

It’s easy to advocate for women’s issues by becoming a two-minute activist. Check this link: https://www.aauw.org/act/two-minute-activist/  Sign up to receive alerts.

In Texas, at the state and local levels, public policy work includes identifying, tracking and assessing legislation, regulations, and policies with our legislative priorities:

  • Equal Pay
  • Women’s Healthcare, including reproductive rights
  • Education-related issues including vouchers by any name
  • Book censorship
  • Reducing Gun Violence
  • Free and Fair Elections

Our local branch encourages voting, advocacy, and being informed.

Thank You! For Supporting WHCB Project to Promote Literacy

There were many book deliveries made to Spring Branch Family Development Center from May through July. In response we received this note:

Dear Georgia,

Thank you and please thank AAUW for supporting SBFDC’s Little Free Library. 

I’m its unofficial librarian and it is so exciting to be able to keep the collection vibrant with good quality reading materials. I expect 600 books to be checked out each month this summer. It is very popular.  

Thank you for supporting the thirst for learning and our community!

Laura Segura
Spring Branch Family Development Center

We are still collecting gently used toddler board books, beginning readers, chapter books, graphic novels, illustrated nonfiction texts, mysteries, and young adult fiction, and old issues of women’s magazines.

Questions: Contact Cathy Urquhart at  curquhart80@gmail.com or text 832-454-5017

Georgia Kimmel,
Public Policy Chair