Receive a text looking for DJs to work at polls? It’s real.
Maine Gathers Tunes to Rally Voters on Election Day
A non‑partisan nonprofit is reaching out to local DJs in all 16 Maine counties, inviting them to spin records at polling stations on November 4. The initiative—called DJs at the Polls—claims that music can help draw people to the ballot and is expanding its footprint from the West Coast to the Northeast for the 2026 midterm election.
The organization sent mass texts to registered voters on Sunday, November 3, asking whether they would be willing to DJ at one of 265 planned polling sites. The texts were signed by DJs at the Polls, and the organization has confirmed that the offer is legitimate. Founder Anton Moore, a Philadelphia native, says the project has already placed DJs at nearly 6,000 voting locations in 11 states in 2024 and is now targeting 24 states this year.
“We’re hoping to have DJs in every county in Maine,” a spokesperson said. “We’re not sure how many people we reached with the texts, but we expect interest to grow as Election Day approaches.”
How the idea came about
Moore began the program in 2012 in Philadelphia, joining President Barack Obama’s “Get Out the Vote” initiative. He saw firsthand how a lively soundtrack could turn a quiet voting center into a community gathering. “Music brings people together, music helps people have fun,” he told the Press Herald. A 2022 randomized controlled trial in Philadelphia found a 3 % increase in turnout at sites with DJs, according to the nonprofit’s website. The organization targets sites in areas with low‑propensity voters and higher numbers of people of color, who historically vote at lower rates.
The offer on the line
The text message read simply: “Are you down to DJ a Maine election? We’ll pay you $500 and provide a generator and swag.” DJs who received the message expressed a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
“I’m not sure if it’s real or just AI spam,” said Dave Dionne of Lewiston‑based Dionne Entertainment. “It seems a little weird, and I haven’t heard of it before.” Dionne, who owns a wedding‑DJ company, added, “I don’t think we need DJs or ICE at our polling locations.” (The latter comment references Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles’ recent call to bring federal immigration agents into Maine polls.)
Meredith Hillman, a Portland‑area DJ who goes by DJ Foxy, was less than convinced. “If it is legitimate then cool, but how did you get my number and why did you reach out to me in this non‑personal way?” she said.
Maxine Darling, who DJs under the name Cervix in southern Maine and New Hampshire, also found the offer odd. “I haven’t heard of that organization. As far as I can tell, they don’t have any Maine roots. It’d be another thing if they were a local organization,” she told the Press Herald. Darling, who spins primarily techno and goth, added, “I almost hope it’s a scam and not them trying to blast people with all of this.” She dismissed the idea as gimmicky, saying, “In the ripe year of 2026, a DJ at the polls is not what’s going to get people to the polls.”
How it would work
If a DJ signs up, the nonprofit will provide a stipend of $500, a portable generator, and branded gear. DJs are free to play any music as long as it is not obscene and they must comply with all legal restrictions surrounding polling sites. Moore told the outlet that amateurs are welcome: “If you’ve got a turntable, you’ve got a microphone, we’ll give you some electricity. You come out and experiment, come and play.”
The organization plans to coordinate with local civic participation and music groups over the coming months. Moore said he expects interest to climb as the election draws nearer: “It starts off a little slow, then it picks up toward Election Day because people realize, ‘Oh, this is not a scam. This is really real,'” he said. “They’re going to do their research, and you get an overwhelming amount of people that want to DJ on Election Day.”
Reactions from the local civic community
The League of Women Voters of Maine has not yet heard from DJs at the Polls but expressed overall support for non‑partisan voter engagement. Deputy director Jen Lancaster said the nonprofit’s “Pizza to the Polls” program in 2020, which handed out slices of pizza to voters, was a creative outreach effort. “Voter participation in Maine is already so high, it’s not likely to make a huge impact,” Lancaster noted, but added that music could make the day more enjoyable. “It’s a fun way to make people smile on Election Day.”
Lancaster also said voter engagement is an ongoing effort that extends well before Election Day, but “having some music
