With the excitement of the imminent election, there’s no better way to channel that energy than by hosting a memorable election night party. But how do you host a get-together that strikes the perfect balance of politically engaged and fun?
To make your election night party even more engaging, go beyond simply turning on the TV and serving snacks. Incorporate interactive games and themed decor to create a lively atmosphere that keeps everyone entertained. From transforming your space into a hub of activity to organizing creative games, your party will stand out. Check out these ideas to help make sure your event gets everyone’s vote.
Transform your space into election night central
Hosting an election night party is more than just gathering your friends to watch the results. It’s creating a space that feels like your own personal epicenter of political action. With the right setup, you can turn your home into an exciting environment that gets everyone excited about the election.
Set the tone with invitations
An election night party differs from your typical gathering to get friends together, so setting the tone from the jump is important. Make your intentions clear with the invitations, using a light and friendly tone to explain that this will be a night to celebrate shared enthusiasm for the political party you support or to follow the election results more broadly. This approach ensures clarity on what to expect and helps avoid any awkward surprises for those who may not be politically inclined.
Get your home ready for the big night
You can transform your living room into an election HQ that gets your guests into the spirit of the evening. Using a wall in your party space, build an Election Wall — providing sticky notes, stickers and printouts — where guests can post their predictions, thoughts or even memes as the night progresses. You could also set up a mock newsroom to add a professional touch. Small knickknacks like a podium, anchor props and a backdrop can create a fun photo booth. For extra impact, consider renting a projector to display real-time coverage and results on a large screen.
Host a live exit poll
Bring the excitement of voting to your party by passing out ballots for guests to vote for silly topics. Using categories like loudest person, best snack or most accurate prediction, tally results and announce winners periodically. You can also award small, politically themed prizes like flags or bobbleheads of political figures.
Plate up winning snacks
Food is a must for any party. For your election night gathering, get creative with it and set out a spread that is both delicious and punny. From patriotic-themed cocktails to a DIY swing state snack bar, these food and drink ideas will satisfy your guests as they follow the election results.
Serve food and drink with a bipartisan twist
Keep things light with drinks and snacks that reflect both sides of the political spectrum. Offer red and blue drinks for beverages, giving them interesting names like “Elephant Elixir” or “Donkey Daiquiri.” If you’re feeling cheeky, you can even make a purple drink called “The Swing Vote.”
Complement your drinks with easy finger foods like loaded tater tots, a guaranteed fan favorite and can be made in less than 40 minutes. For desserts, you could set up a “Unity Bar” where guests can decorate cupcakes and cookies in the colors of your party.
Don’t forget dips and spreads
Provide a selection of dips and spreads to add variety to your food offerings and keep the crowd snacking all night long. A spicy jalapeno cranberry dip adds a seasonal twist, while classics like hummus or seven-layer dip can balance the heat. Pairing them with dippables like tortilla chips and veggie sticks is easy to prepare and ensures that there’s something for everyone.
Design a swing-state snack bar
Put together a snack bar with dishes inspired by key swing states. Think Wisconsin cheese curds, Pennsylvania soft pretzels and Ohio Buckeyes. It’s a fun way to include some regional favorites and keep things interesting as your guests watch swing-state results come in.
Keep the momentum going all night long
Keeping guests entertained through the highs and lows of election coverage can be challenging. Having a few tricks up your sleeve, like high-energy activities or fun games, ensures that your party stays engaging from the first poll closure to the final state call.
Plan election-themed games
Consider creating a candidate or news anchor-related drinking game. Make a list of common election-related phrases like “battleground state,” “too close to call,” “electoral votes” or “breaking news” and actions like technical on-air glitches or salutes. Guests can drink as each of these things are said or occur. For non-drinkers, this game can be set up like bingo, or you could even make themed mocktails with names like “Filibuster Fizz” or “Gerrymander Gulp.”
You can also organize a swing state prediction challenge by handing out maps of the United States and having guests fill out how each state will vote. As the results come in, cross-reference the map to see how well everyone did.
For those who may not be as invested in live coverage, you can keep guests entertained and test their knowledge with political pop culture trivia. Ask questions about famous political books, movies and TV shows with categories like quotes, plot twists and character names.
Use music to create the right atmosphere
Set the mood with a curated playlist with victory songs and energetic tracks to play through the night. Use songs like “We Are The Champions” for big wins, “Eye Of The Tiger” for nail-biting moments and “Born in the USA” to channel your patriotism, or let others contribute their song suggestions as well. You can even use this playlist for an election-themed karaoke on your TV when the live coverage slows down.
Organize a party popper countdown
For a big hurrah and a memorable highlight from your party, plan for a “270 or Bust” party popper countdown. Buy party poppers for all of your guests, and when a candidate reaches 270 electoral votes, have everyone pop their poppers.
Start your countdown to a memorable night
An election party is all about mixing the intensity of the results with some fun and community. Make it a night to remember by turning your space into the heart of the action, with just the right balance of energy, decor and themed snacks. With these ideas, no recount will be needed — your party will win by a landslide.
Sara Nelson is the food blogger behind Real Balanced, where she shares easy, balanced recipes. Since 2017, Sara has helped thousands of readers and social media followers host memorable gatherings with her fun and accessible recipes. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband, two children, and their dog.