Elizabeth Walley: Voter Outreach Volunteer

On Super Tuesday, VolunteerNow is pleased to recognize the efforts of a super volunteer who is focused on voter outreach.

At a new citizen ceremony in Irving, Elizabeth Walley realized those who had gone through the citizenship process weren’t equipped with rich information to be informed voters. The more she worked with them on how to become savvy, educated voters, a pattern emerged - the same thing was happening in other contexts, such as schools and workplaces.  

Walley, now the Vice President of Voter Outreach for the Dallas League of Women Voters, turned those opportunities for education into eight years of service with the League. After starting her volunteer work with the organization in 2008, she says educating and empowering voters has become her mission in life.  

“Volunteering is important for your sense of self-worth, to be part of something and (to) be contributing,” Walley said. “I found the League opened a lot of doors in terms of getting involved, and that there is a lack of information for people to be good voters, so it’s my mission in life to help the situation. Everything flows from voting.”

Voter outreach encompasses a variety of tasks and initiatives, including creating K-12 lesson plans for public education, registering voters, and working with volunteers on public speaking. Walley said she doesn’t have a consistent volunteer group she manages, but rather works with those who come to the League in whatever capacity they can give.

Her main project - sometimes projects - is creating a comprehensive voting guide. Walley oversees and works with volunteers who focus on calling candidates for their answers on issues, collecting poll locations and information, and synthesizing the voting process.

The whole process requires about eight volunteers and several months of lead time. For the Texas primary on March 1, Walley’s team started five months ago. She said they are already at work preparing for local elections in May.

The League is a purely volunteer-run organization, and Walley got involved after retiring and pursuing a lifelong interest in politics. She didn’t know much about the League and was referred by a friend, and just reached out to them to see if they had a role for her. Walley said from there, she was welcomed and encouraged to find initiatives and take ownership of programs.

“You hear about voter apathy but I think there’s a larger responsibility to prepare the public to be good voters,” Walley said. “Government has a role in everything. I really want to do my part and if what I’m able to do is be a resource, then I think that’s wonderful.”

Walley said she believes there is a connection between voting and volunteering, that being involved in political life is related to being a good citizen and giving back. She said in previous decades, the League became a place for women to do something of substance beyond one-off volunteer experiences, especially after the women’s rights movement.

“People volunteer for things they care about, and are motivated by caring about those issues,” Walley said. “I think to be a good person you need to give back. It’s just invaluable.”