Greenfield council bars outdoor special events at active polling places after debate over 'DJs at the Polls'

The Greenfield Common Council denied an application to host a DJ at the Greenfield Community Center on April 1, 2025, and then voted to adopt a resolution prohibiting outdoor special events at active polling places during elections.

Council members said the denial and the subsequent resolution reflect legal concerns about interference with voting and the difficulty of restricting speech at public polling places. Mayor (name not specified) cited a state polling-place statute and said the “music that they play, the DJing activities that they do could possibly be construed as interference or a distraction for the electors.”

The dispute began under agenda item 5, when the council considered an outdoor special-event permit request by DJ’s at the Polls, a nonprofit that proposed a DJ at the Greenfield Community Center during voting on April 1. Erin Anderson, Wisconsin state project manager for DJ’s at the Polls, told the council the group is nonpartisan, trains its DJs, and aims to “play radio-friendly music” at a reasonable level while positioning equipment “at least a hundred feet away from the entrance” so as not to “be a disturbance.” Anderson said the program operated at more than 200 polling locations in the prior November and that volunteers and poll workers gave it positive feedback.

Council members and city staff raised the opposite concern: once permission is granted for one kind of event, any other group could seek similar access — including groups whose music or speech might be interpreted as political or preferential. City staff referenced a Wisconsin statute on polling-place conduct and emphasized that the municipal clerk and election inspectors must “prevent interference with and distraction of electors at polling places,” a phrase the mayor quoted repeatedly during discussion.

The council first voted to deny the specific permit application; the motion to deny was approved in a roll call of those present: Alderson Jaswiecki (aye), Alderson Kasner (aye), Alderson Akers (aye), Alderson Sarian (aye) and Alderson Bailey (aye). After public comment and further staff explanation, Alderperson Acres moved to adopt a city resolution declaring a prohibition on outdoor special events at active polling sites; that resolution passed on an aye vote by the same council members listed above.

Erin Anderson responded to the denial by reiterating that the group trains and pays professional DJs and that the organization’s stated practice is to remain nonpartisan and to stay outside immediate pedestrian flow: “We are nonpartisan... we train our DJs to play radio-friendly music, set up at least 100 feet away from the entrance, not be a distraction.” The mayor and other council members said the city could not guarantee control over a DJ’s speech or the music choices once a permit were granted, and cited potential First Amendment complications and enforcement difficulties.

Council members also noted that DJ’s at the Polls had previously set up at several Greenfield polling places; Erin Anderson said the group had been at three Greenfield sites the prior November and at roughly 200–260 locations statewide. Council members said they were not informed in advance about some of last year’s Greenfield appearances and that lack of prior notification contributed to concern.

The council followed the denial with a separate vote to adopt a standing resolution banning outdoor special events at active polling sites, a policy change the council said clarifies the city’s approach for future elections. The resolution was moved by Alderperson Acres and seconded (record indicates a second was made); the council recorded an aye vote from each member present.

Votes at a glance - Adopted resolution prohibiting outdoor special events at active polling places during elections — Motion: adopt resolution; Mover: Alderperson Acres; Second: not specified; Outcome: approved; Vote: recorded ayes from Alderson Jaswiecki, Kasner, Akers, Sarian, Bailey. - Denied outdoor special event application (DJ’s at the Polls) for 04/01/2025 at Greenfield Community Center — Motion: deny; Mover/Second: not specified; Outcome: approved (denial confirmed by roll call); Vote: Jaswiecki, Kasner, Akers, Sarian, Bailey — all aye. - Adopted settlement of claim of Cassandra Saints for $2,000 — Motion: approve settlement; Mover: Alderperson Acres; Second: Alderperson Castner; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved 2024–25 operator licenses — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: not specified in detail. - Approved temporary indoor uses for House of Harley — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: not specified in detail. - Approved Dan Jansenfest outdoor event (May 22–26) — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: not specified in detail. - Approved special use reviews for Melt and Dip (7820 W. Layton) and Camaria Coffee (4818 S. 70th St.) with council action to approve for one year and waive application fee for up to four additional years for same applicant — Motion: approve with conditions; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved site-plan and ownership change for Mr. Chicken (3322 W. Loomis Rd.) — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved final subdivision plat for Parkview Estates (30th & W. Barnard) — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved amendment to professional services agreement with State Belt Wisconsin LLC (building inspection vendor) — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved 2025 Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association ticket agreement — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved finance items (investments/reinvestments/disbursements/reimbursements) — Motion: approve; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded. - Approved motion to convene closed session under Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(e) and (f) — Motion: approve closed session; Outcome: approved; Vote: ayes recorded.

Why this matters The council’s new resolution sets a municipal policy that will prevent groups from staging music or other organized outdoor activities at Greenfield polling sites on election days. Council members framed the change as a prevention measure intended to limit potential distractions or campaign-like impressions near polling entrances and to avoid legal exposure for the city.

What’s next The resolution takes effect immediately as a statement of council policy; the transcript does not specify administrative steps for enforcement or any amendment to the city’s outdoor special events code (OSC). The transcript shows council members asked city staff and the clerk to rely on existing election-day conduct rules and to provide guidance to applicants in future election cycles.

Quotes (selected) “We are nonpartisan... we train our DJs to play radio-friendly music, set up at least 100 feet away from the entrance, not be a disturbance,” said Erin Anderson, Wisconsin state project manager for DJ’s at the Polls.

“The music that they play, the DJing activities that they do could possibly be construed as interference or a distraction for the electors,” said Mayor (name not specified) while explaining the council’s legal concerns.

Meeting context and participation The DJ item generated extended discussion, multiple rounds of public comment and direct questions to the applicant and elections staff. The council recorded a roll-call vote on the denial and on the resolution; other agenda items that followed were routine land-use and financial matters with standard votes.

Ending Council members said the resolution was intended to provide clarity for election officials and applicants. Staff will carry out the policy at polling places during upcoming elections; the transcript does not specify a separate amendment to the code nor an enforcement protocol beyond existing election-day rules.