Defend Democracy. Take Action.

Defend Democracy. Take Action.

Time Range For Action Alert: 
May 04 2026 to May 17 2026

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Thanks to all of you who are contributing actions and ideas to this bi-weekly Action List.

Actions 5.4.2026

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.

 

State-Level Actions

25–26 SC Bills of Interest

S. 1095 Extreme Abortion Ban passed out of Senate Medical Affairs on April 21 and has moved to the full Senate calendar.

S.1095 is  a total abortion ban with no exceptions for incest or rape. If passed, people who seek abortion care and the providers who offer it could face jail time. It could also put access to birth control and in vitro fertilization (IVF) at risk. S.1095 would replace the medical and moral judgment of those who are pregnant with that of ideologically extreme legislators.

We are confident objections will be filed, so it can’t be considered without special order. This requires a 2/3 vote. Call your senator and tell them to vote no on S.1095

Read our multiple testimonies for background on proposed abortion bans during this legislative session.

Read more about the League position.

Joint statement with ACLU-SC and other reproductive rights groups.

Read Commentary: The dignity of SC girls and women from Lynn Teague, VP, Issues & Action, League of Women Voters of South Carolina  

⇨ ACTION REQUESTED:  It is essential that everyone call their SC Senators today and ask them to vote no on this extreme bill.

Stay informed: Will SCOTUS Louisiana decision impact redistricting in South Carolina?

“The Louisiana decision could have ramifications for other states, including South Carolina, that are considering redrawing their congressional lines. Lynn Teague, the vice president of issues and advocacy for the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, said it is difficult to predict how the Louisiana case will impact South Carolina.”

According to Teague, South Carolina's 6th Congressional District is colloquially called the Voting Rights Act district. It was drawn as a majority-minority voter district in the 1990s to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

"It was the Voting Rights Act that established that redistricting had to provide an opportunity for minority voters to have a voice in how they're governed (and) in who governs them," Teague said.

Read more in this article from the Greenville News.

Statement from The League of Women Voters President Dianna Wynn and CEO Celina Stewart:  League of Women Voters Condemns Supreme Court Ruling Dismantling the Bedrock of the Civil Rights Movement

“In recent months and years, we have watched this Court become less faithful to its constitutional mandate, but today, we have witnessed the final nail in the coffin of its legitimacy. By weakening Section 2 to the point of inoperability, the Court sends a clear message: racial discrimination in redistricting against Black voters and other voters of color is acceptable as long as you don’t say it out loud. This will immediately open the door to racist redistricting; indeed, we have already seen it happening in anticipation of this decision.”

Stay informed: SC election officials detail safeguards in place after state agrees to share voter data with DOJ

Lynn Teague, vice president for issues and action with the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, has questioned whether the federal government has a role to play.

“The League of Women Voters would prefer that this process not happen,” she said. “But given that it has happened, we believe that the state has actually done a sound job of protecting voters from the information that we have.”

Teague added that ballots remain secretive, but said the real test in this case will come with time and implementation.

Read more in this article from Columbia station WIS-TV.

Save the Date: LWVSC Council June 20

A graphic promiting the LWVSC Council on June 20

Members: Watch for your LWVSC email for details.  

Local-Level Actions


Primary Elections on June 9, 2026!

A flyer describing how to make a plan to vote

Voter registration deadline for the Primary: May 10, 2026

If you want a voice in our 2026 Elections, register to vote in time! It is easy to do! Either way you do it, you will need your S.C. Driver’s License, or an ID issued by the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and your Social Security number.

  • You can go online at scvotes.gov
  • Or, register to vote in person at your county election office.

The early voting period for the Statewide Primary starts on Tuesday, May 26 and ends Friday, June 5

Early voting centers are open 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. (closed on Saturday and Sunday and state holidays).

Pickens County Early Voting Centers (all municipalities)

  • County Voter Registration Office: 222 McDaniel Ave, Suite B-9, Pickens
  • Capt. Kimberly Hampton Memorial Library: 304 Biltmore Rd, Easley
  • Larry Bagwell Gymnasium: 111 Walkers Way, Easley
  • Dacusville Community Center: 2671 Earls Bridge Rd, Easley
  • East Clemson Baptist Church: 230 Frontage Rd Clemson

Oconee County Early Voting Center

  • County Voter Registration and Elections Office: 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC

The deadline for voters to apply for an absentee ballot for the Primary Election is May 29, 2026, 5 pm.

It is recommended that you begin the process as early as possible.

Start the Absentee process NOW for the Primary by calling your county election office at 864.898.5948 (Pickens County) or 864.638.4196 (Oconee County). Request that they mail you an application for an Absentee Ballot.

Once you get your application, complete and return it by mail or in person to the county election office.

When you get your absentee ballot, complete it and be sure to sign the voter’s oath and have your signature witnessed. Anyone age 18 or older can witness your signature.

Your ballot must be received by mail or in person to the elections office by 7 pm on election day.

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.
 

Find a detailed list of Pickens and Oconee public meetings.

LWVOP Members Annual Meeting

Tuesday, May 19

Guest Speaker Cassie Owens Moore, Librarian Seneca Middle School, 2026 South Carolina School Librarian of the Year.

RSVP by Thursday, May 14 to cbishopmcleod [at] ftc-i.net (subject: Annual%20Meeting%20RSVP, body: ) (Carolyn Bishop-McLeod) or 803-983-7838

Share our posts on Facebook and Instagram.

This is the easiest and fastest way to spread our message to others in your circle. Facebook and Instagram are only effective as outreach when you like and share the posts!

A Facebook post about ways to vote


National-Level Actions

 

Stay Engaged in the Fight for Voting Rights

An Important Message From Celina Stewart, Esq., CEO of League of Women Voters

A woman talking to the camera with the words "Government are failing the people"

This work doesn’t stop, and neither can we.

  • Connect with your local League and join the nationwide movement to strengthen democracy in 2026.
  • Join the work to build voter engagement through the Unite and Rise 8.5 form below.
  • Stay ahead of election-related information by visiting VOTE411.org.
  • Get your 2026 yard sign to show you’re standing firm for democracy.

Together, we have the power to defend our democracy and ensure every voice is heard.

Statement About the President’s Unilateral Military Action in Iran

WASHINGTON, DC—The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement on behalf of Celina Stewart, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, regarding the President’s military action in Iran:

“The League of Women Voters is deeply concerned by the President’s decision to initiate unprovoked military action against Iran without prior congressional authorization.

“This is not about the character of any individual involved. It is about constitutional authority and the dangerous subversion of our system of checks and balances.

“The Constitution clearly assigns the power to declare war to Congress, an authority that was intentionally ignored. When a president goes around Congress to initiate military action, it is not a sign of strength. It is executive overreach and dangerous to Americans, both domestically and abroad.”

Read more about this military action.

ACTION REQUESTED: Contact your US Senator Lindsey Graham, 864-646-4098; and US Representative Sheri Biggs. 864-224-7401 with your comments.

Join the League (if you are not already a member!)

Help support the League in their mission of educating and informing voters.

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.

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