MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), today unveiled Voting Because, a new initiative aimed at shining a brighter light on the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

The initiative’s central pillar is the launch of the website VotingBecause.com. The site offers a variety of resources to arm users for this year’s election, such as easy access to Rock The Vote voter registration tools, in-depth educational content from properties across the USA TODAY NETWORK around major hot-button topics, and access to USA TODAY’s For The Record newsletter, the go-to read for first-time voters and political junkies alike.

At the heart of the campaign is encouraging Americans to vote and share their reason for voting. With this, they can use the #VotingBecause meme generators found on the site, which enable users to share on their social channels their reasons for voting this year. Voters can also print a #votingbecause card, write down their reason for voting, then snap a shareable photo for their social accounts. The meme generator allows a similar experience with a viral, digital twist. Celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Parsons and Rosario Dawson shared their ‘because’, as did such sports professionals as the NBA’s John Wall and Thad Young.

“This election cycle has been emotionally charged, with lively debates on key issues showcasing the diverse perspectives among the public. However, the act of voting, and its importance, is something we can all agree on,” said Andy Yost, CMO of USA TODAY NETWORK. “We hope the #votingbecause campaign informs and empowers communities we serve to get out and vote. We believe that as long as citizens are voting, there is no bad ‘because’.”

Voting Because is also supported by numerous partnerships, one of which is National League of Women Voters, who will be working with the USA TODAY NETWORK to host voter registration events in select NETWORK markets on National Voter Registration Day, 9/27. Formed from the movement that secured the right to vote for women, the League of Women Voters’ efforts remain to expand participation and give a voice to all Americans. Since 2012, the League has been the single-largest on-the-ground partner of National Voter Registration Day (NVRD).

USA TODAY NETWORK also worked with acclaimed gig poster artist Jermaine Rogers to create an exclusive, one-of-a-kind iconic VOTE poster that will carry a powerful message to participate in our democracy. Rogers, who has designed hundreds of posters for a wide variety of musical artists including the Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age and David Bowie, used the iconic image of Uncle Sam, who says he needs Americans to vote, to rise above the divisiveness of the current election cycle.

“In these times when the weight of our divisions have created a communal fatigue in this country, the fundamental idea of the 'vote' is one of the things that still unites us,” said Rogers. “This ability to cast a ballot in favor of (or against) decisions which will affect our national, state, and local neighborhoods is a heavy thing, especially when considering the enormous sacrifices that have been made to secure even the OPTION for you and I to do so.”

The poster will appear online on September 22, in national print September 23, and in local print editions on September 25.

Additionally, USA TODAY NETWORK is proudly participating in the TurboVote Challenge, which is committed to helping America reach 80% voter turnout by 2020. The TurboVote Challenge will bring influential companies such as Starbucks, Target, and Spotify together to work towards elevating voter participation and engagement.

For more information on how to participate in Voting Because, please visit www.votingbecause.com.

About the USA TODAY NETWORK

The USA TODAY NETWORK is the largest local to national media network in the country. Powered by integrated and award-winning news organizations with deep roots in 109 local communities, plus USA TODAY, the multiplatform news network informs and engages more than 100 million people every month through its diverse portfolio of digital, mobile, and publishing products.

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