Who knew democracy could be this much fun?
At polling sites in cities throughout Nevada on Election Day, Nov. 5, voters may find themselves dancing in line, with local DJs providing the beat.
DJs at the Polls, a national, non-partisan get-out-the-vote group, promises to keep the day upbeat and harmonious, providing more than 3,500 DJs to play family friendly music at more than 7,000 polling sites in battleground states, including Nevada.
The work has two goals: Get out the vote and celebrate America’s free and fair elections.
“It’s different and exciting,” says community activist Anton Moore, who launched DJs at the Polls in Philadelphia in 2008. In past elections, he says, he’s even seen “a soul train line. I’ve seen what they call the Cupid Shuffle, the electric slide, and line dancing…. People are just excited, so come on and lift your spirit up and keep pushing and keep going. This election really matters.”
Don’t miss the music—and your chance to vote
Nevadans can register to vote online and in person—including at the polls—until Election Day.
To find out if a DJ will be at your polling place, DJs at the Polls is now running social media campaigns, texting voters, providing updates on Instagram, and sending out postcards.
DJ Miss Parker, aka Teri Parker, recruited many of her DJ idols and friends to help with the event, including some of Vegas’ favorites: A-ron, D-Money, Sin City Thrilla and Kiloo. Though DJs have been entertaining voters since Barack Obama was elected president, this is the first time they’ll be turning it up in Nevada.
DJ Bebo and Tommy Lin will also be among the DJ royalty showing up to draw voters to the polls and keep them moving if they have to wait in line.
Parker tested out her show in June during Nevada’s primary, when she played mostly ‘80s oldies at a senior community center in Henderson.
“I just want to get you guys excited to vote,” she says.
She keeps up with politics but intends to stay neutral and oriented toward creating fun for the folks who turn out on Election Day. “Hey, get out there and vote,” she says. “I’m just here to play music. We’re going to play for the crowd.”
“I do hope people to go and vote,” she says. “We do need people to get involved in our country.”
Celebrate Your Civic Duty
From its humble roots at its first Philadelphia location, DJs at the Polls has exploded in growth. This year, it expanded nationally, and could reach as many as 10 million registered voters in the battleground states of Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Texas.
“Before it was like, you hand out a pamphlet on election day and say, Hey, vote!” says founder Moore, 38, who also heads Unity in the Community, which works to prevent gun violence. “I wanted to bring more excitement and fun.”
Roughly one-third of eligible voters didn’t cast ballots in 2020, with many feeling as if their votes didn’t matter or that voting was too much of a chore. DJs at the Polls is focusing on them, particularly in densely populated urban areas with large numbers of underrepresented voters—and studies show the strategy works.
This year, more nearly 300 DJs signed up in Nevada for a chance to earn as much as $500 per shift, with two shifts a day, by helping people get excited about doing their civic duty.
In compliance with local election guidelines, the nonprofit’s DJs will set up at the permissible distance from the polling place entrance, and follow all local regulations, from 7-11 a.m. and from 3-7 p.m., when the polls close in Nevada.
They’ll be sure to be heard—as will the voices of people they encourage to come out and vote.
For more information:
- Early Voting in Nevada begins Saturday, October 19 and runs through November 1. Find out where you can vote early: https://nvsos.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/34ab096808b44d479b18cb0e59f519e7
- Follow DJs at the Polls on Instagram to find out the latest.
- Verify your voter registration status and learn more about the dynamic group on DJs at the Polls’ website.
- For media inquiries, contact Nancy Friedman at 917-309-9343, or email nancy@djsatthepoll.org.
