In San Marcos, California, the voting experience came with a playlist. DJ Tyshaun Moore played music across the street from a vote center at Cal State San Marcos, keeping energy high as the nation exercised their civic duty.
He wasn’t the only one. From Kansas City, Kansas, and Toledo, Ohio, to Tampa Bay, Florida, local DJs set up near polling places and gave people something to listen to while they waited.
Some DJs participated as part of DJs at the Polls, a national, nonpartisan voter turnout initiative that hires local DJs to play near voting sites, focusing on communities historically underrepresented at the polls.
Anton Moore, a prominent Philadelphia-based activist and former producer on BET’s Rap City, started the program in the city in 2009. His goal was to transform the voting process into a community celebration, encouraging more people, especially those in urban, disenfranchised areas, to participate in the voting process.
DJs at the Polls hires and trains local, professional DJs to perform live outside precinct locations on Election Day. Fellow Philly resident, DJ Diamond Kuts, leads their recruitment. For the midterms, the group planned sets at nearly 5,000 polling places across 24 states.
Here are just a handful of DJs who volunteered their time and skills mixing the tracks and keeping the music flowing during the 2026 Midterms voting process.
DJ Ben Rich — Kansas City, Kansas
Benjamin Richardson, better known as DJ Ben Rich, played under a tent outside Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church. It was one of 18 polling places in Wyandotte County where the program brought in local DJs for its first Election Day there. “I’ve seen a lot of people dancing here, and they’re giving me energy to keep moving and doing what I’m doing,” he told KCTV5.
DJ Banger — Toledo, Ohio
Outside McKinley Elementary School in Toledo’s West End, Nate Walls —aka DJ Banger — spun tunes as voters arrived. It was one of 20 Toledo polling places featuring local DJs involved with the initiatives. His presence pleasantly surprised voters, who told Walls they’d never seen a DJ at the polls. “It brings energy. Voting is supposed to be a celebration,” he told WTVG, the local ABC station.
DJMoney813 —Tampa Bay, Florida
DJMoney813, a Tampa native and community organizer, had three stops on his Election Day schedule: Port Tampa Bay Cruise Terminal 6, Grove Bible Chapel and Centro Cristiano Hispano in Brandon. DJMoney813, who’s been spinning for 26 years, considers this experience a career milestone, he told WUSF. His message, like the others involved in the program, was short and simple: “I’ll bring the vibe, you bring the vote.”
Michael Joyner (@shorty2k33) — North Las Vegas, Nevada
DJ Shorty2k33, whose full name is Michael Joyner, teamed up with DJs at the Polls for an early morning slot in North Las Vegas. His tunes brought joy to those waiting, including a foursome who immortalized the moment.