Opinion: Amid misinformation and roadblocks, voters guide is critical

By Moriah Powers and Valerie Salinas-Davis

An op-ed published Aug. 26, 2020, in the Austin American-Statesman

One hundred years ago today, the 19th Amendment officially became law, giving women the right to vote.  2020 also marks the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters, which has become a trusted source of nonpartisan information for voters. These centennial anniversaries are great reasons for celebration, but let’s not forget it has never been more important than it is right now to educate our diverse populations about our voting rights.

Central among the educational tools the League of Women Voters offers is the “Voters Guide,” which for the first time we are producing in in four languages as the November 3 elections approach. The guide provides information on candidates on the local, state and federal levels, and will be available in Austin this fall in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

This election cycle, not only will voters be participating in one of the most critical presidential elections in history, but here in Austin we’ll also be selecting City Council Members in five districts and deciding whether to support the $7.1 billion initial investment for the Project Connect transit plan.

When it comes to our City Council member races, we will be voting for candidates running in districts 2 (Southeast Austin), 4 (North Central), 6 (Northwest/West), 7 (North Central) and 10 (West/Northwest). These candidates will represent some of the most diverse neighborhoods of Austin. Districts 2 and 4 have populations that are 69 percent and 65 percent Hispanic/Latino, respectively. District 6 is 13 percent Asian, and District 7 is 10 percent Asian.  

Regarding the proposed transit plan (Proposition A), voters will decide whether to invest in a rail system that connects North and South Austin (including stops at UT, the Capitol Complex, and Auditorium Shores), and moves people from as far East Austin as the Expo Center through Springdale Road and Pleasant Valley Drive to downtown. Our enhanced transit system will also include an expanded bus system with four new MetroRapid routes.

A transportation bond (Proposition B) is also on the ballot to help pay for much-needed infrastructure improvements, including more sidewalks and bike lanes.

Mass transit and safe bike and pedestrian infrastructure can be critical to many “front line” workers in the restaurant, hotel, and retail industries, and to teachers, university students, and government employees.

This is why all of Austin should make sure we are represented by the right elected officials and help choose what’s best for our communities. This starts with voting, and maybe even running for office some day.

In addition to featuring the candidates and their platforms, the Voters Guide will include critical information and dates related to how to register to vote, early voting, mail-in ballots, where to vote, and voter identification rules.

We are living in an unprecedented time, when misinformation is flying about the security of voting by mail, and efforts at voter suppression seem to build with every election cycle. In the lead-up to November 3, these intentional roadblocks are complicated by the worst pandemic in a century–a sad irony with the 100th anniversaries of the 19th amendment and the League of Women voters.

The good news is all of these barriers are quite simply surmountable—by voting. Empower yourself with clear information about the ballot, vote early to avoid lines, vote by mail, and work the polls if you can.

The Voter’s Guide is currently in production and is expected to be available online at LWVAustin.org and Vote411.org in October, but we could use your help now. Tonight we are hosting “Power the Vote,” a fun virtual fundraiser that will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and support the production of the Voter’s Guide. Please join us, please vote all the way down the ballot to our local elections, and please urge your friends, neighbors and family to vote.

Moriah Powers is President of the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area, and Valerie Salinas-Davis is President-Elect.