Fort Worth residents will hear a lively soundtrack while they vote this Tuesday, as the nonprofit DJs at the Polls stations local DJs at 40 Tarrant County polling locations. The effort aims to make the voting experience more enjoyable and to encourage higher turnout across the county.
Music meets civic duty
DJ Chris Marshall, an outreach and advocacy specialist for the city of Dallas, will be on duty outside three Fort Worth sites – O.A. Peterson Elementary School, Lake Country Church and Sunset Valley Elementary School. “Even at the polling location, you can come have a good time, dance and kind of get in the mood — the right mindset for going into that polling location and casting your vote,” Marshall said.
Marshall also hosts a Christian hip‑hop radio show and believes music can break down social barriers. “There are people that marched and died for us to have the right to vote,” he added, calling voting “one of the most sacred things that you’ve got.”
Nonpartisan, nationwide effort
The national, nonpartisan nonprofit has been placing DJs at voting sites since 2009. Founder Anton Moore, a former iHeartMedia and BET Rap City radio personality, first tried the idea in Pennsylvania. Since then the program has expanded to 24 states, offering a mix of hip‑hop, R‑B, afrobeats, pop and gospel.
Moore, now director of public engagement for the city of Philadelphia, said, “It’s important to vote, because it gives our legislators the power to change laws or implement laws on our behalf. If you don’t vote, your voice will be silenced.”
Locations across the county
The DJ stations will be set up at schools, churches, community centers and libraries throughout Tarrant County, including Fort Worth sites such as Charles F. Griffin Building, Chisholm Trail Community Center, Lake Country Church, and the Northwest Branch Library, as well as Arlington locations like the Tarrant County Sub‑Courthouse and several elementary schools.
Organizers hope that the upbeat atmosphere will reduce the monotony often associated with voting day, where long lines and the prohibition of phones can make the process feel tedious. By offering music and a festive vibe, they aim to attract voters who might otherwise stay home.
Community response
Local residents have expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. “If it can encourage just one more person to vote, or simply make their voting experience more enjoyable, I’ll be satisfied,” Marshall said.
The effort aligns with broader community goals of civic engagement and family participation in the democratic process. By turning polling places into gathering spots where neighbors can share a song and a smile, the program underscores the belief that voting is a shared responsibility rooted in faith, family, and freedom.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
