Thanks to all of you who are contributing actions
and ideas to this bi-weekly Action List.
Actions 10.12.2026
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
Special Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Edition!
How can you help? Keep reading for action items!
Message from Pat Spurlock, President LWV Oconee/Pickens:
We are in the final push to increase voter participation in the Nov. 3 election. We have had five successful candidate forum/Vote411 Live events. What can we do as a League to make that final push to get voters to the polls?
One opportunity we have is the nationwide October 17 "Vote Early--No Kings" initiative (see information below). The national and state Leagues support this effort. I expect all of us to attend an event. Yes, we will wear our LWV T-shirts and carry signs.
Where can we best use our super power: our voice and our reputation as proponents of free and fair elections. The public knows us for voter registration, but let's show we are so much more.
What can we do with the remaining 23 days to increase the number of voters on November 3? Please share your ideas with your fellow Leaguers.
Also, check your voter registration and vote early: Oct. 19-31.
No Kings Rally to Celebrate our Vote
Saturday, October 17, 11 am-12:30 pm, Seneca City Hall
Sponsored by Indivisible Oconee: “On October 17th, make plans to join all patriots in Oconee who want to celebrate our right to vote! We need to make sure every registered voter in Oconee gets to the polls to VOTE! It is totally unacceptable for less than 50% of us to choose the representatives for All of us! If you don’t vote, you have no right to expect politicians to listen when you talk. Vote and they MUST listen to you because you will hold them accountable for their decisions!!!!
We will also be asking voters to vote early to avoid any efforts to interrupt our election process on Nov 3rd. Come with signs - decorate your cars, plan voting parties, etc. Spread the word. Your vote is your voice. Use it or lose it!!!”
We will see you there!!!
REGISTER TODAY!
United Walk to Vote
Monday, October 19, 8 am-12:30 pm, Walhalla
Indivisible Oconee is organizing this kickoff event for Early Voting. Their goal is to overwhelm the polls on opening day. They will meet at 8am near the Court House and start their walk to the polls at 8:30. Bring your photo ID! And share with your neighbors and other groups - they want a huge and diverse crowd! Sponsored by Indivisible Oconee.
Everything You Don't Know About Elections
LWVOP Monthly Program Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 5:30 pm
Public welcome!
Please note the time change. Clemson United Methodist Church, 300 Frontage Road, Clemson. Our guest speakers will be the Pickens County Board of Elections Chair, Cary Kaye, and the Oconee County Board of Elections Chair, Jim Murray. They will discuss how elections work.
GOTV non-partisan strategies!
Learn more at this webinar, October 20 from National Voter Registration Day.
Join on October 20 at 2:00 pm ET to learn how you can help your community use their collective voice at the polls on November 3.
In part two, the focus will shift from education to mobilization as we discuss tried and true methods organizations can use to build an effective, nonpartisan Get Out the Vote strategy that motivates people to follow through on their voting plans. We’ll cover timely reminders, relational outreach, volunteer engagement, digital and in-person tactics, early voting promotion, overcoming common barriers, and creating a sense of momentum around participation—and there’ll be plenty of time leftover for some Q&A.
Can't attend live? Register anyway. Everyone who registers will receive the recording and presentation slides after the webinar.
REGISTER TO JOIN
Volunteer to be an election observer
Recently, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that the current administration declined to invite international election observers to monitor this year’s US midterm elections. This is the first time in over 20 years that the OSCE will not send monitors to polling places across the country.
While international observers from the OSCE won’t be present, state and local laws are already in place that clearly define where, when, and how US citizens may observe our election system.
Election observation provides an experience for everyday voters to get up close and personal with the voting process. The League of Women Voters is recruiting volunteers to ensure that elections run smoothly and efficiently. Join us in keeping our elections transparent and accessible!
Please complete the form below by Sunday, October 25th and a member of the LWV team will follow-up with you on connecting with your state or local League on election observation opportunities this midterm election cycle! Thank you for being willing to help!
SIGN UP TO BE AN ELECTION OBSERVER
Phone Bank for Democracy
Watch the training video. The video addresses calls to remind people to register to vote. We've now moved on to remind people to vote. The script tells you what to say.
It’s easy to get started!
- Log on and create a new account and password with your email.
- Then a script pops up with the name and phone number of the first caller. When you are finished with that call, go to the drop down menu to select what happened.
- Then you can go to the next person.
- When you've finished with your calls, log out. When you log in again, go to the same website and it should remember your email address.
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Don't get discouraged if you are hung up on, or you don't get to talk to someone. Leave a message. The rule is that for every ten people called you will probably get one live person. Just keep trying.
Let’s all try to make 10 calls a day, and
reach hundreds of potential South Carolina voters!
Successful Candidate Forums and VOTE411 LIVE EVENTS!
Monday, October 5, 6-8 pm: VOTE411 Live Meet and Greet
Oconee County Council and SC House Candidates
Candidates pictured left to right: Devin Clay, JB Brubacher, Christopher Des Marias, Jasmine Williams, Trinket Hulbert (answering questions for Candace Shutt).
Tuesday, October 6, 6-8 pm
SC House District 3 Candidate Forum
Candidates pictured left to right: Philip Bowers and Claiborne Linvill
Wednesday, October 7, 6-8 pm
U.S. House District 3 Candidate Forum
Pictured left to right: Ruth Reed and Matt Saltzman, question panel; Carolyn Bishop-McLeod, moderator; Eunice Lehmacher, and Brian Corriea, candidates.
Thursday, October 8, 6-8 pm: VOTE411 Live Meet ans Greet
Pickens County Council and SC House Candidates
Pictured left to right: Carolyn Bishop-McLeod, moderator; Candidates: Russell Oglesby, Erin Goss, Derrick Kruse, and David Jones (on Zoom). All Photos courtesy of Ken Marsh
Midterm Election Deadlines
To vote in South Carolina on November 3, the last day to register by mail is (postmarked by) Monday, October 5.
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
- Voting Absentee by Mail: Call Pickens County Board of Elections: 864-898-5948 or Oconee County Board of Elections: 864-638-4196 NOW to request an application, due by Oct.23. Don’t wait, the process takes longer than you think!
Learn more about voting in South Carolina at LWV.org.
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.
- Monday, October 12: 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, October 12: 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).
- Monday, October 19: Pickens County Council Mid-Month at 6:30 pm in the Main Conference Room of the Administration Facility, 222 McDaniel Avenue 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).
- Monday, October 19: 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, October 26: Pickens City Council Work Session, at 6 pm, 219 Pendleton St, Pickens, SC 29671. Find the Schedule of Meetings, City Council Minutes, Agendas, and Livestream Recordings here (scroll to the bottom of the page).
- Monday, October 26: Pickens County School Board Meeting at 6 pm in the Boardroom of the Curtis A. Sidden Administration Bldg, 1348 Griffin Mill Rd, Easley, SC 29640. Board meetings are livestreamed; to watch, please connect to the SDPC YouTube page. You may view video of past meetings.
Find a detailed list of Pickens and Oconee public meetings.
October 20 is Election Hero Day!
Election heroes help make sure every voter can participate. They include election officials, their staff, poll workers, and volunteers who keep the process running smoothly. When voters have the information they need ahead of time, it supports their work. VOTE411 encourages voters to celebrate election heroes by showing up informed and prepared with trusted election information and tools.
Please 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
LWVSC Voting Information Update
It’s full speed ahead toward the November 3 midterm elections! Here are some League tips to make sure you’re ready—and confident in your ability— to cast your ballot in South Carolina.
Don’t believe everything you see online! Even well-intentioned people are posting inaccurate information on social media platforms. You need to know what South Carolina law permits and requires. The League of Women Voters’ VOTE411.org is a reliable source of information. The South Carolina Election Commission provides trustworthy information at SCVotes.gov.
Check that your registration is up-to-date this month. Enter your information at VOTE411 to confirm you’re listed at your current address. September is the month to resolve any questions. If you are not listed as an active registrant, you can easily make corrections or even reregister online by October 4.
- If you've moved within the same county, you need to change your address.
- If you've moved from one county to another, you need to reregister in your new county.
Can’t confirm you’re registered, or unsure? Call your County Board of Elections to look up your registration and advise next steps.
Registration deadline: By mail - Monday, October 5 - must be postmarked by this day
The League strongly recommends that you CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION before Election Day.
Join the League (if you are not already a member!)
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
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If someone forwarded this email to you, sign up to get it directly!
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.
