Local DJs to provide the soundtrack at New Hampshire polls Nov. 5

Who knew democracy could be this much fun?

At polling sites in cities throughout New Hampshire 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 3,500 DJs to play family friendly music at more than 7,000 polling sites in 11 battleground states, including New Hampshire.

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 the program in Philadelphia in 2008. In past elections, he has 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

DJs at the Polls is now running social media campaigns, texting voters, providing updates on Instagram, and sending out postcards so people know that a DJ will be at their voting site.

One of the DJs whipping up excitement on Election Day will be DJ Allen Keys, the resident DJ at Manchester’s SOHO Bistro & Lounge. He also plays at McGarvey’s and Sweeney Post in the city. A seasoned musician, he’s played saxophone in bands at Tanglewood and in the movie “Lethal Innocence.”

Keys also deejayed during the New Hampshire primaries. “I saw people approaching the polling station dancing and having fun as they were walking down the sidewalk. A lot of people came up to me and said, ‘Hey, I’m loving the music,’ and told me they looked forward to coming back in November.”

“I’ve never heard anybody say, ‘I love voting—it’s so much fun.’” he said. “Music helps, especially if it’s fun, upbeat music. It helps to just let your hair down and dance. I try to keep everything upbeat, clean stuff that nobody’s going to be offended by. My goal is to create a fun vibe.”

Having DJs at the polls, he said, “will inspire more people, especially younger people, to come out for the music as well as to vote, because it will give them two incentives rather than just one.”

Celebrate Your Civic Duty

From its humble roots at its first Philadelphia location, DJs at the Polls has exploded in growth. This year, the program expanded nationally, and could reach as many as 10 million registered voters in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and, of course, New Hampshire. 

“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 reporting 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. 

The program is “completely non-partisan,” Keys said. “We don’t advocate for or against any party or candidate. The only mission is to make the process of voting fun.”

This year, thousands of DJs signed up for a chance to earn as much as $500 per set 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. 

But they’ll be sure to be heard—as will the voices of people they encourage to come out and vote.

For more information:

• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. There is no early voting in New Hampshire, so make a plan to head to the polls on Tuesday.
• To vote by absentee ballot, you must meet certain qualifications. 
• You can get an absentee ballot by going in person to your town clerk’s office.
• Remember to bring your photo ID to the polls.
• You can register to vote and vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, if you bring the right documents.
• To verify your voter registration status and learn more about this dynamic group of DJs, check the DJs at the Polls’ website.
• You can also follow DJs at the Polls on Instagram.
• For media inquiries, contact Nancy Friedman at (917) 309-9343, or by email at [email protected].