Newsletters & Alerts | LWV (League of Women Voters) Williamsburg Virginia - League of Women Voters of Williamsburg Area

Date: 9/6/2026
Subject: eVOTER - September 2026
From: LWV of Williamsburg Area

eVOTER

September 2026

Thank you, members. Your support sustains the League’s work in defending democracy, voter education, advocacy, and community engagement across the Williamsburg area.

Guest Essay: This Isn’t Over

On April 29, the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais struck at the heart of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, weakening one of the nation’s most important protections against racial discrimination in voting. Within days, Louisiana and other states began moving to redraw congressional maps, raising the prospect of fewer opportunities for Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.

The history is sobering. In Mobile v. Bolden (1980), the Court required proof of discriminatory intent. Congress responded by amending the Voting Rights Act to make discriminatory effect sufficient. In Shelby County v. Holder (2013), the Court dismantled the Act’s preclearance system. Now Callais moves the law backward again.

Each time the Supreme Court is asked, “who counts?”, the Court’s answer is “fewer people than the day before.”

This isn’t over. The League will continue to defend every eligible voter’s right to participate—and urges voters, especially those most targeted, to vote early or by mail in the upcoming November midterm election.

— League Member Harry Chancey

Peninsula Unit Meeting

Monday, September 28, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Grissom Library, 366 Deshazor Drive, Newport News
Program: Presentation and conversation with Vicki Lewis, Newport News Director of Elections
Contact: peninsula.lwvwa@gmail.com

The Peninsula Unit of the League of Women Voters of the Williamsburg Area is pleased to welcome Vicki Lewis, Newport News Director of Elections, to its monthly meeting. Come learn how local elections are organized, administered, and protected.

Midterm Town Hall: Your Vote. Your Voice.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Time: 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Location: Williamsburg Regional Library, 515 Scotland Street, Williamsburg

LWV-Williamsburg and the York-James City-Williamsburg NAACP will host a nonpartisan community town hall focused on the November election.

Hear from Williamsburg City Council candidates and learn about Virginia’s three proposed constitutional amendments from an expert panel addressing reproductive freedom, restoration of voting rights, and marriage equality.

The program is designed to help voters understand what will be on the ballot and make informed decisions in November.

Quick Updates

📝 Observer Report

Read our observer report from the recent WJCC School Board meetings in August. View report (PDF) →

More Upcoming Events

Voter Registration Training

Saturday, September 12, 2026 — 10:00 a.m.
Online

Virginia Department of Elections training for people assisting with voter registration drives. Training is required for League members who help at LWV-Williamsburg voter registration tables.

Diversity Includes Disability

Monday, September 14, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Online

LWV Virginia webinar on disability voting rights and ensuring that people with disabilities can fully exercise their right to vote.

Health Care Affordability Crisis: Reforms We Needed Yesterday

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 — 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Online

Presented by the League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale.

Can't attend live? Register anyway to get the recording.

Webinar on Virginia’s Three Constitutional Amendments

Thursday, September 17, 2026 — 7:00 p.m.
Online

LWV Virginia will discuss the three constitutional amendments on the November ballot: voting rights, marriage equality, and reproductive freedom.

Voter Registration Training

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 — 11:00 a.m.
Online

A second live Virginia Department of Elections voter registration training session.

LWV-Williamsburg Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
Williamsburg Regional Library, Scotland Street

All are welcome.

How to be an Informed Voter

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — 3:00 p.m.
Yorktown Library Meeting Room, Yorktown Library

In-person presentation by members of the League of Women Voters. All are welcome.

LWV-Williamsburg Fall Members Meeting

Thursday, October 22, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
Legacy Hall, Williamsburg

With three constitutional amendments on the November 3 ballot, this timely program will help members and guests better understand the issues before Election Day.

The meeting will feature a panel discussion on the proposed amendments, with speakers addressing reproductive freedom, voting rights, and marriage equality.

Confirmed speakers are Christine Payne, Board Member, JCC Community Action Agency and Olde Town Medical Center, on reproductive freedom; Mary Bauer, Executive Director of ACLU of Virginia, on voting rights; and Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, on marriage equality.

Peninsula Unit Meeting

Monday, October 26, 2026 — 6:00 p.m.
City Space, 11820 Merchants Walk, Suite 100, Newport News

Harry Chancey will present Gaslighting: The Wizard’s Wand — Authoritarianism, Disinformation, and How to Fight It.

Contact: peninsula.lwvwa@gmail.com

Book Discussion

Thursday, October 29, 2026 — 4:30 p.m.
In person at a League member’s home

Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy by Joyce White Vance. All are welcome.

Contact for location: lwvwa.communications@gmail.com

🗳️ Ready to Pitch In?

Help with voter information at the Nottoway PowWow in Surry. Donnie Carson, LWV Virginia Membership Chair, is looking for volunteers to help staff a League table with voter information and registration materials.

Saturday, September 19: 12:00–5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 20: 1:00–5:00 p.m.
Location: Surry County Parks and Recreation Center, 205 Enos Farm Drive, Surry

Volunteers are being organized into three shifts each day: 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m., 12:30–3:30 p.m., and 3:30–6:30 p.m. Volunteers may work more than one shift.

Interested? Contact Donnie Carson at membership@lwv-va.org with the shift or shifts you prefer. She plans to confirm the volunteer schedule by September 10.

More about the Nottoway PowWow →

🇺🇸 From Voter Services

Voter Services tabling has begun at William & Mary and in local senior communities. League volunteers expect many opportunities over the next six weeks to help students register and prepare to vote.

Residents in local senior communities have been especially engaged, with many checking their voter information and permanent absentee-ballot status. In conversations with local registrars, Voter Services has confirmed that mail-in voting continues as usual despite recent changes and public concern.

This fall, Voter Services is also expanding its outreach through partnerships with local churches, NAMI, Lafayette Village, Native powwows, service fraternities, and RPEO backpack giveaways.

— adapted from reports of M. Simpson and D. Koch, Voter Services Co-Chairs

⚖️ From Advocacy: Voting Rights Restoration

One of the three constitutional amendments on Virginia’s November 3 ballot concerns restoration of voting rights after a felony conviction. Under Virginia’s current constitutional system, a person convicted of a felony generally loses the right to vote unless those rights are restored.

The issue has already seen an important development this year. In January, a federal court ruled in King v. Youngkin that Virginia may not disenfranchise people whose convictions were for crimes that were not felonies at common law in 1870. The ruling therefore expanded voting eligibility for a significant group of Virginians, but it did not automatically restore voting rights to everyone with a felony conviction.

The proposed constitutional amendment would establish a broader and clearer rule: a person convicted of a felony and sentenced to incarceration would regain political rights upon release from incarceration and would then be eligible to register to vote. If voters approve the amendment, the new provision is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.

Voting-rights restoration will therefore be an especially important issue for Virginia voters this fall as they consider the three proposed constitutional amendments before Election Day.

— Adapted from a report by L. Rice, Advocacy Chair

Want to get more involved? Help with voter outreach, advocacy, events, hospitality, voter registration, and more. Contact:
lwvwa.communications@gmail.com

Not a member yet? Joining the League connects you with others who care about empowering voters and defending democracy in our community.

Learn About Membership

Get election information at the League’s

League of Women Voters of Williamsburg Area

lwvwilliamsburg.org

P.O. Box 1086, Williamsburg, VA 23187-1086

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