This story was originally published in the EinPresswire on June 11, 2024.
Harrison, NY — Today, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and League of Women Voters (LWV) announced a new partnership to educate and empower voters in 2024. The collaboration is part of ABA’s member and community campaign, “Get Out the VOTE,” which aims to equip independent bookstores to engage with voters.
Independent bookstores and state and local Leagues have collaborated in the past at the local level on nonpartisan civic programming, including promoting the League’s online voter information tool, VOTE411.org. This partnership between the national organizations will expand local collaborations and generate new resources, including a guide supporting this work as well as a branded VOTE411.org/ABA landing page for independent booksellers to use to get out the vote.
ABA and LWV will also host a webinar "League of Women Voters and America’s Independent Bookstores: Local Voter Engagement in 2024 and Beyond,” on Thursday, July 25 at 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET. The webinar is open to all with a focus on the experience and reach of independent booksellers, as well as available tools and support that LWV can provide. Additional information about registration will be sent to ABA members in Bookselling This Week.
“Independent bookstores are essential to local community building and civic engagement, said Kelly McFarland Stratman, Chief of Staff and interim co-CEO at the League of Women Voters of the United States. “Through our partnership with the American Booksellers Association, the League can further empower communities and book lovers alike to get out to vote and make informed decisions that shape our democracy.” ABA’s CEO, Allison K Hill, said about this partnership, “ABA is thrilled to partner with League of Women Voters to help get out the vote for the upcoming elections. Independent bookstores know first-hand the impact of elections on their businesses and their communities, and they are uniquely positioned to rally their customers to vote. ABA is honored to help support League of Women Voters’ important work.”