Voters heading to the polls on Election Day may hear more than the usual hustle and bustle outside some polling locations. They may also hear music blasting from a DJ booth.
It’s all part of a nationwide, nonpartisan initiative called DJs at the Polls, which is bringing local DJs to more than 200 polling locations across the Houston area on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The goal? Turn up the music and, hopefully, voter turnout.
For Michael Sanni, better known as DJ GQ Mike, it’s an opportunity to combine two things he’s passionate about: music and civic engagement.
Sanni has been a DJ for 20 years, performing at weddings, anniversaries and other celebrations. But a polling location is a new kind of venue.
“Being here, I love it, because I know this is something very important, especially the election, people coming out to vote,” Sanni said. “I want to give them just a different vibe.”
Sanni said a friend introduced him to DJs at the Polls, and he immediately signed up.
He plans to play a mix of Afrobeat, reggae, Latin music, R&B and Motown to create an upbeat atmosphere for voters.
“Music is like our universal language,” Sanni said. “It brings a different atmosphere. So I’m happy to be part of this.”
He’s also been promoting Election Day on social media, encouraging his followers to cast their ballots. Sanni said he already voted during early voting.
The idea behind DJs at the Polls dates back to 2009, when founder and co-director Anton Moore wondered how he could make voting more exciting.
Moore, who previously worked in music and media, decided to bring DJs to polling locations to create a more welcoming environment.
The initiative started with just two DJs.
“We believe that music connects people like no other, makes people excited, it gets them amped up and get them pumped up to get out and vote,” Moore said.
Since then, the initiative has grown significantly.
According to Moore, the organization now has approximately 15,000 DJs in its network, with about 2,000 scheduled to perform at 5,000 polling locations nationwide this Election Day.
The organization focuses particularly on communities that have historically been underrepresented at the polls, including communities of color.
Moore said the idea is to bring familiar faces and sounds into neighborhoods, making the voting experience feel more like a community celebration.
“Because DJs are the people in your community,” Moore said. “That host your family reunions, your barbecues, and all exciting events in your neighborhood.”
For Sanni, the mission is simple: play good music, bring positive energy and encourage people to participate in the democratic process.
“It’s going to be fun listening to different genres of music while people are casting their votes,” Sanni said.
