ATLANTA (Sept. 15, 2026) — Today is International Day of Democracy and National Voter Registration Day in the United States. The Carter Center is marking both occasions with a reminder of what elections protect: the right of each voter to cast their ballot and make their voice heard.
At a moment when the United States feels increasingly divided, it is important to remember that democracy does not require unanimity, only a willingness to keep working together despite disagreement. Elections allow people with vastly different views to find a shared way forward. However, elections only work if people take part in them and the process is trusted, regardless of who wins. That trust depends on everyday choices: registering, showing up, and accepting outcomes.
As part of today’s observances, the Center is sharing Common Ground, a short film by writer/director Nate Townsend that promotes civility and democratic participation ahead of the midterm elections. Common Ground finds optimism in the ordinary: two people exercising their right to disagree while continuing to participate in democracy together. Shot on Super 16mm film in and around Folkston, Georgia, the film offers a simple proposition for a divided political moment: “We don’t have to agree to get along.”
The Carter Center puts that same principle into practice through its Democracy Resilience Networks, which bring together trusted leaders from across the political spectrum in seven states to help bridge community divides and remind us of our shared values. Networks are locally driven and co-led by leaders from different sides of the political aisle who may disagree on policy but are united by a shared commitment to democratic ideals and peaceful dialogue: listening respectfully, disagreeing agreeably, and resisting the urge to dismiss someone else’s point of view. With the midterm elections only a few months away, that practice is the work required to keep American democracy strong.
The Carter Center encourages every eligible American to register and vote this election season, and to extend that same trust and respect to neighbors who may see things differently.
Contact: media@cartercenter.org
The Carter Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 90 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.