Kevin Costner and his band will perform in a free concert with door prizes at the Santa Fe Rodeo Grounds on Friday night to get a crowd for a scene in his political comedy, Swing Vote.

The feature film, to be released prior to the November 2008 election, is about a presidential race between a Republican played by Kelsey Grammer and a Democrat played by Dennis Hopper that comes down to a single vote.

The deciding vote, according to a news release, belongs to Bud Johnson, “a lovable loser, coasting through life,” played by Costner, who is also the film’s producer.

“Kevin’s kind of a ne’er-do-well,” said Elizabeth Gabel, the film’s background casting director. “His daughter (Molly, played by Madeline Carroll) wants to vote in the election, so she sneaks in and votes under (Bud’s) name. ... But the (voting) machine dies, so they don’t know how he votes.”

Also starring in Swing Vote are Nathan Lane, George Lopez and Stanley Tucci.

The story culminates in the Johnsons’ hometown of Texico, N.M. — a town of about 1,000 just west of the Texas state line. Most of the filming has been done in Belen, but the Santa Fe Rodeo Grounds will serve as the site of the final presidential debate.

Gabel estimated 4,000 people already have been used as extras in Belen — making the film one of the largest users of extras ever in New Mexico.

People who show up at the rodeo grounds Friday won’t be paid as extras, but will get to hear Costner play lead guitar and sing in his rockabilly group, The Kevin Costner Band.

Participants will get free tickets at the gate that will have numbers that will be raffled for door prizes that include a 2008 Tracker Panfish 17 boat and trailer; three trips to Las Vegas, Nev.; two trips to Disneyland; and one trip to the Richard Petty Driving Experience in Las Vegas, Nev.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, but people will be admitted throughout the evening. Local comedian Scotty Goff will host the event with a family-oriented routine, says the news release. Gabel said the boat will be raffled after midnight, and you must be present to win.

Touchstone Pictures, a Disney company, will distribute Swing Vote, which is directed by Joshua Stern, who wrote and directed the 2005 feature Neverwas.

In June, the State Investment Council approved a $15 million loan for Swing Vote’s $20 million budget. Costner previously starred in two New Mexico Westerns, Wyatt Earp in 1994 and Silverado in 1985.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.

• What: Scene in Swing Vote
• Who: Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer and Dennis Hopper
• Where: Santa Fe Rodeo Grounds, 2801 Rodeo Road
• When: 5 p.m. to after midnight Friday
• Cost: Free with door prizes