Stay up to date on LWV happenings in Topeka and Shawnee County!
Saturday | August 1 from 4:30pm – 6:30 pm | Berryton United Methodist Church
DAY OF CIVIC ACTION: All are invited to join the LWVTSC as we canvas the neighborhood, encourage community members to vote, and honor the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. See more information below.
Saturday | August 1 from 5:00pm – 7:00 pm | Berryton United Methodist Church
Voter Services tabling at Berryton Block Party
Monday | August 3 from 7:30am – 11:30am | Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Voter Services tabling at the Monday Farmers Market
Tuesday | August 4 from 7:00am to 7:00pm | Your Shawnee County Polling Location
The 2026 Primary Election!
Tuesday | August 4 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm | Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Marvin Auditorium
Tuesday Topics: Sara Tucker on “Kansas Women in Politics”
Friday | August 7 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm | First Fridays in NOTO
Voter Services tabling in front of ArtsConnect
Friday | August 14 from 11:00am to 12:00pm | Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Anton Room 2nd Floor
Book Club – Dark Money, Jane Mayer
For dates of upcoming Voter Education, Voter Registration, Board Meetings, and more, please view the events calendar on our website.
President’s Perspective
The month of July was extremely active for the league. We attended a “field trip” to Constitution Hall, which recently opened. While there, we learned about the history and significance of the history in relation to Bleeding Kansas and the role that Topekans played in writing the Topeka Constitution. The hall offers tours and opportunities for you to engage our community or corporate business in hosting seminars and trainings.
The LWVTSC members and partners hosted a Candidate Meet and Greet forum on July 13. Over 100 were in attendance. We thank the candidates and our partners for their efforts and attendance.
August 1st Day of Civic Action
Our local league is participating in a Day of Civic Action as part of the national LWV initiative to honor the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Come help us mobilize voters and strengthen democracy!
What: Canvassing to raise awareness of the August 4th Primary Election
Where: Berryton United Methodist Church
When: August 1st from 4:30pm – 6:30pm
RSVP: Sign up on Point, our volunteer platform, to let us know you’re coming!
This Day of Civic Action event coincides with the Berryton Block Party, where our fabulous Voter Services Team will be tabling. Meet us at Berryton United Methodist Church (7010 SE Berryton Rd) to pick up materials and plan out a route.
Construction Detour: Berryton Rd is under construction south of 69th St. Participants should plan to detour to Croco Rd or Topeka Blvd and reconnect to Berryton Rd from the south.
Primary Election Reminders
All registered Kansas voters, regardless of party affiliation, have a primary ballot in 2026 because of the judicial selection constitutional amendment ballot question. LWVTSC Opposes Constitutional Amendment.
- Early voting in person at the Shawnee County Election Office:
- July 20 – July 31, 8am to 7pm
- August 3, 8am to 12pm
- Advance mail ballots must be requested by July 28
- Return by 7pm on election day, August 4
- Election Day is August 4, and polls are open from 7am to 7pm.
- More information at the Shawnee County Election Office
- https://www.snco.gov/election/vote
Local Observer Reports
This month’s report includes discussion of data centers and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. One of our League members, Dennis Bosley, is featured as a public commenter! And on the Shawnee County side, the budget process has officially begun.
LWV observers keep you informed about what is happening in local government. The Local Observer Corps volunteers attend city, county and school board meetings and take notes.
Observer Reports will be posted on our website to help get our members this useful and actionable information in a more timely manner.
Adopt a Duck!
It’s time to adopt your little swimmers for the Great Topeka Duck Race! The ducks are in training getting ready to race, September 26 at 10:00 AM. Support Topeka charities and the LWVTSC and have fun doing it. Adopt a Duck online from the League’s team. Help the League beat its 300 duck adoption goal!
In addition to supporting the League, the Duck Race benefits Topeka Sertoma Clubs’ programs & beneficiaries, including Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in Shawnee County, Capper Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network, The Villages, The Marian Clinic, Meals on Wheels, Head Start Programs, LULAC, and East Topeka Sr. Centers, Safe Streets, KVC, LifeHouse Child Advocacy Center, Ronald McDonald House, TARC, Boys & Girls Clubs, Sole Reason, hearing health missions, and many other worthy causes. More details on the Duck Race homepage.
Tuesday Topics is August 4: “Kansas Women in Politics” with Sara Tucker
Join us at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library for our monthly civic education presentation.
Women have determinedly worked for women’s rights starting before we had a state constitution! Piece by piece like sewing a quilt, Sara will talk about how Kansas women have made progress from our initial statehood through 21st century. View the library event listing for more information including the link to join by Zoom.
Sara Tucker is professor emeritus of history at Washburn University. She holds a Ph.D. in history from Indiana University. For 20 plus years, Sara’s research has focused on American women’s lives in the 19th and 20th centuries as well as various aspects of teaching with computer technologies.
Note: August 4 is also primary election day in Kansas! Visit vote411.org/kansas to make your voting plan and research the candidates on your ballot.
Join the LWVTSC Book Club
The LWVTSC book club meets at 11 am on the second Friday of every month. We’re currently meeting in the Anton Room on the 2nd floor of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Lunch in the Millennium Café following the discussion is optional. Anyone is welcome. Contact Carole Jordan for more information.
Upcoming titles:
- Aug. 14 Dark Money, Jane Mayer
- Sept. 11 A Woman of No Importance, Sonia Purcell
- Oct. 9 White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo
- Nov. 9 There There, Tommy Orange
- Dec. 11 Talk about books and the coming year
Full list on our website.
Local League Members Attend 2026 LWVUS National Convention
(Virtually!)
Every two years, the LWV US holds a national convention to conduct its business. This year, three LWVTSC members attended virtually as voting delegates: Allan Foster, Mary Galligan, and Cindy Lash. During the convention, the LWVUS introduced a new program “Defending Democracy under Siege”, adopted several resolutions related to democratic elections, and concurred on 2 state league positions on immigration and religious freedom. Read the full recap here.
LWVTSC Board Member Mary Galligan Honored by LWVUS: “Helping Hands Award”
Mary Galligan, LWVTSC Treasurer, was honored at the LWVUS Convention with a Helping Hands Award. The award recognizes her role in assisting Leagues with the new portal: from rosters to websites, finance screens to Stripe. Mary doesn’t just help us with portal problems- she is a regional membership support liaison for Leagues in multiple states. Well done, Mary!
LWV Board Updates
- LWVTSC received a “clean” audit report for the year ended March 31, 2026.
- We were awarded a $3,000 grant from LWVK for a civic engagement and advocacy academy, a program to help grassroots leaders from underrepresented communities develop skills to influence local policy.
- Kansas will celebrate the LWV Day of Action with activities on August 1.
Unite and Rise 8.5: A LWVUS Initiative to Defend Democracy
Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. Launching in May 2025 and running until the 2026 midterm elections, this initiative is part of our Women Defend Democracy campaign.
Unite and Rise 8.5 will fight for our democracy on multiple fronts, from the courts to the streets. More actions will be outlined in the future, but there are several actions along with more information at https://www.lwv.org/uniteandrise.
State League Action Alerts & Newsletter
Stay informed of State League of Women Voters activity.
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