We take action to defend democracy!
Actions for the week of 11.10.2025
Thanks to everyone who contributed items this week!
We rely on your input for these items!
Please share this with your friends.
Send your ideas for action items to: cherie.walker.lwv [at] gmail.com
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
ACTION 1: THANKS to your poll workers for being heroes from LWVOP!
Monday, November 3 was Election Hero Day, a collaborative and nonpartisan national day of celebration recognizing the tremendous contributions that election officials, their staff, and poll workers make to ensure a safe and secure voting experience for all Americans.
On Monday, November 3, snacks and a card signed by League members were delivered to County Election Offices in Oconee and Pickens counties to celebrate Election Hero Day! Everyone was so thankful and appreciative. Pictured with the left is Ryan Nowland, Assistant Director, Oconee County Voter Registration. On the right is Dr. Amy Sams (far right) and staff members from Pickens County.
ACTION 2: UNITE AND RISE 8.5
“Unite and Rise 8.5 is more than a campaign; it’s a movement-building strategy. Each 90-day arc connects us, grows our collective capacity, and pushes us closer to a democracy that truly reflects the people it serves. By centering women, partnerships, and power, we are building not just for this election cycle, but for the generations to come.
TUESDAY TRAINING Laying the Groundwork: Building Sustainable Partnerships
Tuesday, November 18, 3 – 4pm ET
Strong partnerships don’t just happen; they are built with intention. This training will introduce Leagues to the core steps of partnership-building: how to identify and reach out to potential allies, establish trust, and sustain relationships over time. Participants will gain practical tools for beginning outreach, learn strategies for showing up as reliable partners, and explore ways to grow collaborations that benefit both the League and community organizations. By laying this groundwork now, Leagues will be better positioned to build lasting partnerships that expand reach, deepen impact, and center the voices of those historically excluded from full participation in our democracy.”
Learn more about Unite and Rise 8.5 on the LWV site. You must be logged in to the League Management site to access the playbook.
ACTION 3: ATTEND meetings of your local government and stay informed on local issues.
LWVOP.org maintains an extensive calendar of local public meetings.
- Monday, November 10: Pickens City Council meeting in City Hall, 219 Pendleton St, Pickens, SC 29671 at 6 pm. Find Schedule of Meetings, City Council Minutes, Agendas, and Livestream Recordings here.
- Monday, November 10: Oconee County School Board Meeting* at the District Office at 6 pm. If you cannot attend, there is a livestream option. Also, you may find the 2025 agendas and minutes from past meetings here.
- Thursday, November 13: Oconee Board of Elections & Voter Registration, Regular Board Meeting at 415 South Pine St. Walhalla SC in Council Chambers at 10 am unless posted otherwise.
ACTION 4: ATTEND the next Democracy Integrity Briefing
Tuesday, November 19, 3:30 pm
Virtual
The Algorithmic Transparency Institute, a project of the National Conference on Citizenship, partners with the League of Women Voters to inform LWV National and State Leagues about narratives circulating online related to elections, democracy, voting, and other key topics. These reports will cover: Here is the link to join!
ACTION 5: Preparing for State Legislative Sessions 2026
November 13, 3:00 pm-4:00 pm ET
Virtual
Join the LWVUS advocacy team as they share tools and resources that Leagues can use for their upcoming legislative sessions and provide a refresher on effective advocacy strategies for those who need it.
State-Level Actions
Find your SC Legislators.
ACTION 6: Keep up the PRESSURE! On Nov. 18, 2 pm, the Medical Affairs Subcommittee will again hear testimony on S. 323.
S 323 remains unacceptable in its entirety. There is no amendment that could make this bill acceptable. It would treat any abortion as homicide with exceptions only for imminent death of the mother or loss of major bodily function.
Talking points:
- S 323 would require that even the youngest rape and incest victims carry pregnancies to term. Girls are increasingly reaching puberty at very young ages, so this raises the possibility of girls as young as 8 being required to give birth, an exceedingly dangerous demand.
- With S323 no one could decide for themselves whether to continue a pregnancy when a fetus is found to have no chance of survival. Senator Cash and his allies would have decided for them.
- The bill would demand specific resources for all “non-emergency” births from 19-37 weeks (ICU, two doctors present). Many South Carolinians can’t access those resources and even the few rural hospitals we have are in danger.
What can you do?
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As a constituent, continue to call YOUR Senator Rice, (803) 212-6124; Senator Cash (803) 212-6116; and Senator Alexander (803) 212-6220. Demand that they abandon this egregious attack on our autonomy, privacy, speech, and safety. Personal calls from constituents are the most effective means of influencing Legislators!
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Keep contacting Senators on the Medical Affairs Subcommittee and urge them to oppose S.323. Even lawmakers who generally support abortion bans can’t ignore overwhelming opposition from their constituents.
Cash, (803) 212-6124
Corbin, (803) 212-6100
Fernandez, (803) 212-6024
Garrett, 803-212-6016
Hutto, (803) 534-5218
Martin, (803) 212-6420
Saab, (843) 355-5349
Tedder, (803) 212-6132
Verdin, (Chairman) (803) 212-6250
Zell, (803) 212-6040
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Amplify this message by liking and sharing the Facebook posts from LWVSC and LWVOP.
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Be Informed.
ACTION 7: LEARN AND SHARE about Safe AI for Seniors
Nov. 14, 2025, 9 am - 4 pm
Columbia and virtual
Interested in learning more?
Safe AI for Seniors, a full-day, free, hybrid event is dedicated to empowering older adults (55+) with knowledge, tools, and engaging discussions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on daily life.
Hosted by the AI4Society research group in the AI Institute at the University of South Carolina, this unique gathering is designed to help seniors better understand AI, explore its benefits and risks, and share their perspectives in shaping a safer digital future. Community members, senior citizen centers, nonprofits, and individuals curious about AI are welcome to participate.
- Location: AI Institute, 5th floor, 1112 Greene St., Columbia, South Carolina
- Date: November 14, 2025, Friday; 9am-4pm
- Format: In-person, with virtual attendance option available. Register to learn more.
National-Level Actions
ACTION 8: TELL Congress to end the shutdown NOW!
Full statement from LWVUS here:
“The federal government has been partially shut down since October 1st as Congress has failed to agree on an annual budget. The shutdown has imminent consequences for the health and well-being of millions of Americans whose paychecks are being withheld, and food access is being threatened.
As of now, more than one million federal employees are going unpaid, including approximately 730,000 working without pay and 670,000 who have been furloughed. Missing paychecks could force people to cut into their savings, rack up credit card debt, work additional jobs, and/or struggle to meet their own and their family’s basic needs…
While Congress continues to get paid, the American people, including some of our most vulnerable community members, don’t have their most basic needs met. This is simply unacceptable.
We must protect the health and well-being of our neighbors. Tell Congress to set aside partisan politics and come together to end the shutdown now.”
Sheri Biggs (R-SC) 864-224-7401
This is your representative in the House.
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) 202-224-5972
This is one of your two Senators.
Tim Scott (R-SC) 202-224-6121
This is one of your two Senators.
Action 9: Take CARE of yourself (and others!)
Many people in our community are being impacted by the government shutdown and loss of SNAP benefits. You can help by donating money & food to LOCAL Food Banks. Contact them directly to see what they need.
ACTION 10: Join the League (if you are not already a member!
Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.
ACTION 11: Sign up for the mailing list.
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.
