Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.
| | The Voter
The official newsletter of the
League of Women Voters of Piedmont, CA.
Vol. 37, Issue 13 | August 2, 2026
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August 2026 with the
LWV of Piedmont!
In this issue:
- A Message From Our President
- Piedmont Voters Survey
- Mark Your Calendars!
- Voter Information
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Unite and Rise 8.5
- Water Spotlight
- Reminder
- Weekly Virtual "Lunch with the League"
But first, let's welcome our new member:
Paulette Sharp
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A Message From Our President
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Dear LWV of Piedmont Members and Friends,
Piedmont Voters, please take a moment to take our anonymous survey, in the next section. Your responses will be used in drafting questions for Vote411.org and for upcoming candidate forums hosted by our Voter Services volunteers.
Finally, I inadvertently left Kathleen Quenneville out of our list of 4th of July parade walkers. Thank you for participating with us and let's look forward to next year's parade!
In League, and on behalf of the Board,
Lisa Gardner
President, League of Women Voters of Piedmont
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LAST CHANCE TO WEIGH IN!
As we approach the November 3rd General Election, we need your input by 5pm 8/3! Please answer our short, anonymous survey to rate topics that are important to you and suggest questions for Piedmont City Council and Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education candidates. Thank you if you've already participated.
Your anonymous responses to this survey will be used in drafting questions for the Vote411.org election guide and for candidate forums hosted by the League of Women Voters. This survey closes at 5pm on Monday, August 3rd. Thanks!
| | | | Unite & Rise:
Voting Rights Day of Action in Berkeley
Join the League of Women Voters Saturday, August 8th, 4-7pm in Berkeley to protect and expand The Voting Rights Acts (VRA), and to demand our elected officials stand up against the rising wave of segregation. Afterwards, join us to call communities in California encouraging them to get involved and expand democracy. Lets work together to make democracy work for us.
Register for this event HERE.
Location:
UC Berkeley Student Union: Martin Luther King Jr. Building
2495 Bancroft Way
E. Paulsey Ballroom
Berkeley, CA 94720
MAP
| | |  | | The League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley is co-hosting a
Unite & Rise for Voting Rights Day of Action
with the
National Council of Negro Women Alameda Section,
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and
Omega Upsilon Omega Chapter
The August 9 LWVDV Day of Action commemorates the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). If you are interested in learning about how the Supreme Court's Callais decision weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, see this LWV article.
There will be a brief educational overview about the VRA and discussion about the current electoral challenges we face. Participants will also hear personal stories about how voting affects our lives and our communities, and have the opportunity to engage in Get Out the Vote activities.
The event will start at 3 pm in the Oak Room, on the second floor. Access the elevator from the main entrance (off the parking lot) or from the underground parking. We will move outside for Get Out the Vote activities.
Register for this event HERE or RSVP here: janet@lwvdv.org
LOCATION:
Walnut Creek Library, Oak Room (2nd floor)
1644 N Broadway
Walnut Creek California 94595
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LWV of California Events
Stay connected with other Leagues in California and their events HERE.
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Piedmonters can register to vote on the website of the California Secretary of State HERE or with Alameda County HERE . To find out what is going to be on your ballot, and check your registration, you can go to www.vote411.org .
As the general election primary election day--November 3, 2026--nears, these sources will have updated information about voting by mail and/or polling places near you.
| | | | VOLUNTEER WITH US
We are an all volunteer organization with "jobs" that range from once in a while tasks, like tabling for events or programming coordination, to full year positions.
We currently have these volunteer roles, which can be done with a friend, ready to be filled:
- VP of Membership
- Program Committee Member: Join a group of fun, passionate volunteers to make a difference in our community through curated events.
For more information, please contact Lisa Gardner today by email at Lgardner555@gmail.com or by phone 510-867-9221.
YOUTHS: We are registered to provide volunteer service hours. Students who would like to collaborate with the League of Women Voters for events, volunteerism, or to interview a Board Member, please send an email request to President, Lisa Gardner, AND include one parent or guardian in the email, at LWVPiedmont@gmail.com.
| | |  | | In the September 1st, 2025 issue of The Voter, we explained the LWV-US Unite and Rise 8.5 movement. The goal is to motivate 8.5 million Americans to take nonviolent action in support of our democracy.
As we enter the mid-term elections, the final phase of Unite and Rise 8.5 August-October is: Power Rising for Midterms.
August's Unite and Rise 8.5 theme is: Nationwide Activation
Our main focus this month will be to encourage our Piedmont League members and friends to register and show up for a nationwide Day of Action for Voter's Rights event near you. Grab a friend or family member, join us and volunteer with a group of people committed to defending democracy, empowering voters and building community!
Here are some other core actions you can choose from to #EmpowerVoters #DefendDemocracy and #BuildCommunity with us:
- Launch “Know Before You Go” campaigns with clear information on registration deadlines, voting rules, and polling locations.
- Promote “Make Your Voting Plan” tools and assist voters in preparing for Election Day or early voting.
- Leverage your network and work with partners to send emails and share social media graphics across diverse communities, encouraging people to become poll workers — especially people who are bilingual.
- Utilize VOTE411.org resources to help voters research candidates and ballot measures.
- Leverage August 8 activation: Before the activation invite everyone in your circle and your partners to join your local event; after the activation, phone bank to ensure people in high-risk areas are prepared to vote.
Check out this short informative video about Unite and Rise 8.5 courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Austin Area and find ways to support Unite and Rise 8.5 in our community.
For more information, go to www.lwv.org/uniteandrise and commit to being a part of this vital initiative for democracy.
YOUTHS: We are registered to provide volunteer service hours.
Students who would like to collaborate with the League of Women Voters for events, volunteerism, or to interview a Board Member, please send an email request to President, Lisa Gardner, AND include one parent or guardian in the email, at LWVPiedmont@gmail.com. |  | | WATER SPOTLIGHT – August 2026
Welcome to Water Spotlight, a monthly series from the League of Women Voters of California Water Interest Group, featuring expert-written articles for local league newsletters. The purpose is to educate members on California's complex water issues-covering history, law, environment, infrastructure, and policy - while exploring solutions and future.
Allocating and managing today's precious water resources according to a centuries-old prior appropriation/riparian water-rights system implicates principles of social and environmental justice as well as 21st century hydrologic knowledge. In this month's Water Spotlight we learn about water equity in California. Read the full article here.
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Join or Renew Your LWVP Membership!
Continue your commitment to empowering voters and defending democracy by joining or renewing your membership with the League. The new system, through LWVUS, allows you to pay what you want (with a minimum of $20), and to set up auto-renewal. Membership lasts for one year after joining or renewal (on a rolling basis). To renew, please click HERE.
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Weekly Virtual “Lunch with the League”
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Join us for a weekly virtual lunch date with LWV of Piedmont, President Lisa Gardner. Come learn about our plans, discover opportunities to get involved, share your ideas for events, activities, or projects, or chat local, state, national or global politics!
Registration is required.
Drop in for a bit or stay for the whole hour. Tuesdays, 12-1pm. Zoom registration HERE
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We're social. Connect with us!
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Not yet a member of LWVP?
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