On the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, three women are turning to online gaming to encourage voting.
YWCA Greater Cincinnati and Game Day PR are partnering to reach "a new generation" of voters by live streaming video games played by local female gamers.
"They will play for over six hours on Tuesday and their whole mission will be to encourage people to register to vote that day," says Jackie Reau, Game Day CEO and YWCA Greater Cincinnati board member.
Viewers will be able to watch on the streaming platform Twitch. The gamers will talk about the importance of voting and registering to vote. Viewers will be able to ask questions and get information like a link to their local board of election in a special chat room.
"We want to really engage a new generation of potential voters, tell them how important it is to get out and share their voice," Reau adds.
The gamers - known by their first names Brittany, Ivy and Shae - will be playing the popular games League of Legends (5 p.m.), The Isle (8 p.m.), and Animal Crossing (1 p.m.).
Why esports?
"As the next generation of voters becomes aware of the importance of the right to vote, they're spending more and more time on video games. They're spending time on Twitch, they're spending time on YouTube," Reau says.
Game Day, a marketing agency focused on sports and entertainment, created its own esports program to reach this growing segment of the gaming industry. Reau says the agency specifically wants to promote female gamers.
