Stay up-to-date on LWV happenings in Topeka and Shawnee County!
Calendar of Events
Tuesday | November 4 | Noon | Marvin 101BC at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Tuesday Topics Speaker: Marie Pyko, CEO of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Friday | Nov 14 | 11am | Anton Room 202, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
LWVTSC Book Club: James, by Everett Percival
Tuesday | Nov 18 | 11:30 am – 1 pm | Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Climate Committee Meeting – all members welcome to join, please contact Vicki Arnett.
For dates of upcoming Voter Education, Voter Registration, Board Meetings, and more, please view the events calendar on our website.
Election Resources: Early Voting Has Begun!
Mail ballots are being sent, and early voting at the Shawnee County Election Office runs weekdays until 12pm on November 3. Here are some resources to help you make your voting plan:
- Vote 411 is a national, free, nonpartisan tool developed by the League of Women Voters Education Fund. You can look up the races on your ballot, and even view surveys submitted directly from candidates who choose to participate. Our board of directors worked directly with Vote 411 to make sure that all of our local races are included, and reached out to candidates to invite them to participate by filling out the survey.
- The Shawnee County Election Office has all the information you need to request a mail ballot, check the in person early voting schedule, and confirm your polling place for election day.
- Here is a full list of Shawnee County races and candidates.
President’s Perspective
Greetings! If you have been wondering what the latest news is on the Grocery Oasis of Central Topeka, the speaker at October’s Tuesday Topics did not disappoint. For the month of November, Marie Pyko, Chief Executive Officer of the Topeka And Shawnee County Library, will be our guest speaker and will be sharing strategic updates. Be sure to join us on November 4 at Noon at the Topeka Library.
Read the most recent message from Dr. Glenda Overstreet Vaughn, President.
Say “No” to New Maps!
By the time my fellow Leaguers read this we may have more clarity on whether the Kansas Legislature will meet in Special Session to further gerrymander our congressional districts. What we know today, October 17, is that Kansas legislative majority leaders are pushing members to sign a petition calling for a Special Session to draw new maps. The impetus for this comes from the White House, not from our fellow Kansans. Let me remind you here at the top, and unambiguously, as a nonpartisan organization, partisan gerrymandering is just not the League way!
Read the full message from Mary Galligan, Treasurer, LWVTSC Board of Directors
Also: Take action and contact state lawmakers!
Local Observer Reports
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.
Each month, LWV volunteers attend city, council, and school board meetings. Their observer reports help keep us informed.
Observer Reports will be posted on our website to help get our members this useful and actionable information in a more timely manner.
Notice: Membership Renewal Process
Most of us have recently received a membership renewal reminder email from the LWVUS. They are in charge of membership now, and send renewal notices 60 and 30 days before your official expiration date, which for most of us is 12/31/25. Linked below is information about the renewal period, how to join/renew through the LWV Member Portal, and how to join/renew offline.
Voter Services Update
It’s time to pull out the “Your Vote Matters” yard signs lurking in your basement or garage. This is a final step in helping turnout the vote on Nov. 4. Our positive message helps remind people there is an election and reinforces our constant message that voting matters.
I’m so grateful to all of you who have been taking action across Topeka by working at our over 30 registration events this election cycle. You’ve educated hundreds of voters to inform them about who is running, how to vote and when to vote. We can be proud of our visibility in the community, so I extend a warm thank you to everyone. Read More from Voter Services Chair Vicki Buening.
Take the TopCity25 Challenge!
The Topeka Voter Collaborative (TVC) is challenging the Topeka community to show up for this fall’s General Election in a big way!
It’s 2025. Can Topeka voters top 25 percent voter turnout in the mayoral and city council elections? This would be a 5 percent increase from the last mayoral election, representing about 4,000 additional voters.
Can we meet the challenge? The Topeka Voter Collaborative believes we can. Spread the word and make your plan to vote early or on election day!
RSVP “going” to this Facebook event, and share the challenge with others using TVC’s toolkit: bit.ly/topcity25.
Tuesday Topics Recap: Highlights from October Presentation by Nadia Arbelo, from the Topeka Grocery Oasis
The Topeka Grocery Oasis is a local nonprofit on a mission to provide a nourishing, affordable, sustainable food source to Central Topeka neighborhoods facing food insecurity. In her presentation, Nadia Arbelo shared some of the history that formed into this effort, and the opportunities and challenges they face in this period of research and fundraising. 73 people attended, including 13 visitors who are not (yet) members.
Join the LWVTSC Book Club
The LWVTSC book club meets at 11 am on the second Friday of every month. We’re currently 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:
November 14 – James, Percival Everett
December 12 – Talk about books for 2026 and in general
Board Updates
- Dennis Bosley has been appointed to the Board of Directors.
- A Climate Award, to be presented at the Annual Meeting in April, has been instituted to recognize an individual who has exhibited leadership and demonstrated impact in the field.
- LWVTSC was highlighted by the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce as one of five organizations promoting voter registration and education.
State League Action Alerts & Newsletter
Stay informed of State League of Women Voters activity.
