Thanks to all of you who are contributing actions
and ideas to this bi-weekly Action List.
Actions 9.7.2026
These are just suggestions of actions you could take as an individual.
If you are a League member, always remember to express your personal views, and not to speak on behalf of the League. Only League Presidents or designees can speak on behalf of the League.
Local-Level Actions
Oconee Pickens Local League Meeting: Civic Engagement in Today’s America
Tuesday, September 15, 4 pm
☑️Public welcome! Learn how you can be involved in civic engagement and strengthening our democracy.
Gubernatorial Candidate Forum
Thursday, October 1, 7:30-9pm
Public Welcome!
☑️ Listen to the candidates as they share their views and answer questions.
Midterm Election Deadlines
Early Voting Information for 2026 Statewide General Election
- Early Voting days for the 2026 Statewide General Election are Monday, October 19 - Saturday, October 31.
- Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)
-
Closed Sunday, October 25
We Celebrate Women's Equality Day 2026!
Top row, left to right: Pat Spurlock, Tookie Nemchak, Taimi Olsen and Joanne Heintz.
Bottom row, left to right: Candace Schutt, Pamela Davison, and at the podium: Carolyn Bishop-McLeod, Meredith Burr and Kathy Bargeron.
“Every single generation had to do something to protect suffrage and voting rights, and this is our moment to do it in this generation,” says Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization focused on protecting Americans’ freedom to vote. Read this article in Forbes Magazine including the interview with Celina Stewart.
South Carolina Supreme Court to hold public session
Clemson University September 15-16
The Court will hear four cases during two daily sessions at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.The public event is designed to increase understanding of the judicial system and make the Court’s work more accessible to South Carolinians. Learn more about this public session.
Local Politics Matter!
☑️Stay informed and involved by attending meetings where important decisions are made.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Tuesday, September 1:Oconee County Council Meeting at 6 pm in the County Council Chambers located at 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC. Here are links to the Calendar, agenda and minutes and videos of past county council meetings.
- Tuesday, September 8: Pickens County Council Meeting at 6:30 pm in the Council Auditorium at the Administration Facility, 222 McDaniel Ave., Pickens, SC 29671. View links to their 2026 Council Meeting Calendar, Pickens County Calendar, and to the agenda and minutes and videos (scroll down the page).
- Tuesday, September 8: City of Clemson Council meeting at 6:30 pm held at Council Chambers, Clemson City Hall, 1250 Tiger Blvd #1, Clemson, SC 29631, unless otherwise noted. View the 2026 calendar.
- Monday, September 14: Oconee County School Board Meeting at 6 pm in the SDOC District Office Board Room, 414 S. Pine St, Walhalla, SC, unless otherwise noted. If you cannot attend, there is a livestream option. Also, you may find the 2026 agendas and minutes from past meetings.
- Monday, September 14: Pickens City Council Regular Meeting at 6 pm in City Hall, 219 Pendleton St, Pickens, SC 29671. Find the Schedule of Meetings, City Council Minutes, Agendas, and Livestream Recordings (scroll to the bottom of the page).
- Tuesday, September 15: Oconee County Council Meeting at 6 pm in the County Council Chambers located at 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC. Here are links to the Calendar, agenda and minutes and videos of past county council meetings.
- Thursday, September 17: Pickens County Library System Board of Trustees meeting at 6 pm, Village Library, 124 N Catherine St, Pickens, SC 29671. Find the calendar year 2026 meetings and locations and the agenda and minutes. See a list of book titles that have been challenged.
Find a detailed list of Pickens and Oconee public meetings.
Share our posts on Facebook and Instagram.
☑️ This is the easiest and fastest way to amplify our message. Facebook and Instagram are only effective as outreach when you like and share the posts!
State-Level Actions
Stay informed about Data Centers.
This will be an issue in the next Legislative Session.
County planners upheld a denial for one data center while state officials said they won't regulate another.
South Carolina Public Radio's Reagan Knight talks with Scott Morgan about two decisions this week focusing on data centers in Spartanburg County.
“I’ll start by saying I am not going to argue against the existence of data centers. I am arguing for their responsible regulation.”
By Lynn Teague, League of Women Voters of South Carolina vice president, issues and action
Reposted from Substack. Follow her: @lteague
“The world knows from harsh experience what happens when powerful individuals and groups are allowed unregulated ability to do whatever increases their own power and influence. Most of our environmental laws and regulations exist because of abuses that have harmed millions. Data centers are the newest example. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t exist. They will continue to expand and have a substantial influence on our lives. It does mean that their owners must be compelled to be transparent about their plans, build and operate their facilities in ways that do not trample on the lives of their neighbors, and they must pay their own way.”
The Impact of AI:
By Lynn Teague, League of Women Voters of South Carolina vice president, issues and action
Reposted from Substack. Follow her: @lteague
“Opposition to hyper-scale data centers is very much in the news, and the energy cost and environmental impacts of data centers are centered in most of these discussions. However, the actual role of AI in our society, economic and socially, is also important and informs some of the opposition.”
National Level Actions
Federal court grants emergency relief blocking USPS from implementing newly-finalized mail ballot rule
August 27: In a case filed by the League of Women Voters and other voting rights organizations, a federal court granted the emergency request to block the US Postal Service (USPS) from implementing the newly-finalized mail ballot rule for the November midterm elections. That rule would assign USPS an unprecedented and illegal gatekeeping role in the administration of mail voting, and jeopardize the delivery of mail-in ballots to many voters. Read more about this case.
*Note: There is a lot of disinformation being spread regarding mail in ballots and inactive voter status. LWVSC is preparing a researched, factual response that will be available soon on our website and through an Action Alert. Please be responsible and do not share inaccurate information.
Tell Congress to oppose the SAVE Act Suite of bills
The Senate is in recess from August 10 – September 11.
☑️During this time, the League is encouraging members and supporters to visit their Senator’s state offices, call their offices, or send our action alert opposing the SAVE Act.
When your Senators are in your area, you can speak directly with them or their staff by visiting them, calling their state offices, or attending community events. Doing so helps your Senators understand their constituents’ interests and concerns, shows them that their constituents are paying attention, and compels them to put a face to their decisions.
Celebrate Democracy with National Voter Registration Day
September 15, 2026
LWV is a proud National Partner in this project.
LWVUS Strongly Denounces President Trump’s False Claims About Election Security
July 16, 2026: “The League of Women Voters strongly denounces President Trump’s false, outlandish, and indefensible claims related to the security of US elections. Continuing to spread allegations that have been repeatedly debunked by experts through countless court proceedings not only erodes public confidence in the democratic process but also further weakens the institutions that protect our freedom to vote. This is yet another brazen attempt to undermine elections and suppress voter turnout.
“Our elections and national security have been protected because of agencies such as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC), both of which had their leadership dismantled by the Trump administration. You cannot claim to defend election integrity while blatantly dismantling it and firing the independent experts whose very job it is to protect it.
Read CEO Celina Stewart’s statement here.
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We would love to hear from you about this initiative. Feel free to forward this email to others who wish to find ways to participate. Whether it’s how this made you feel, results you saw, or suggestions for future topics, please let cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com (subject: Defending%20Democracy, body: ) (Cherie Walker) know.
