Voting is the foundation stone of political action. — Martin Luther King Jr.
September is packed with civic milestones. National Voter Registration Day is September 16, a reminder that voting is both a privilege and a responsibility. Yet fewer than two-thirds of eligible Americans vote in national elections, and turnout is even lower in state and local ones.
Libraries, while strictly nonpartisan, are essential to democracy. They provide trusted information, free resources, and public spaces where everyone can engage in civic life. As new elections approach, your library can help you find reliable information, register to vote, and prepare to make your voice heard. Join the campaign to ensure every community is #VoteReady. Local resources and safe, free online tools like MyVoteWisconsin make it simple.
Just a day later, on September 17, we mark the anniversary of the U.S. Constitution’s signing in 1787. A year later, it was ratified and, in 1789, paired with the Bill of Rights—documents that continue to shape and protect our freedoms today.
Whether you’re signing up for a free library card during Library Card Sign-Up Month, learning about the Constitution, or updating your voter registration, your library is here to help you fully participate in civic life.
And since September 19 brings “Talk Like a Pirate Day”—aye, matey, let us not forget—claim yer library card and treasure the riches of knowledge, history, and democracy.
“The Constitution has sheltered us from those who would destroy freedom, but the fortress is incredibly fragile because it is only as strong as our devotion and allegiance.” — Justice Janice Rogers Brown