'Vote for Change': Nonpartisan registration drive held for Oklahomans at Diversion Hub

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Encouraging Oklahomans to do their civic duty. A nonprofit called "Vote for Change" is heading to communities across the Sooner State with that goal in mind.

Fox 25 went to their event at Diversion Hub in Oklahoma City.

"I particularly have a passion for people that are often forgotten about,"Vote for Change co-founderJ'Shawna Smith said.

For the first time Friday afternoon, Smith's group held a registration drive for Oklahomans experiencing homelessness and those who are re-entering society.

"Regardless of your demographic, you still have that God-given right that you have earned to vote."

Tony James registered to vote.

"I would like to do something like that: help people," James said. "Everybody should want to help somebody else, or bring somebody up."

"Y'all, this is exciting," Smith said. "Today we were able to give someone that currently does not have a house, that is living on the streets of Oklahoma City, and now we have helped give them their power back."

Julius Jones, who was recently granted clemency, helped form the nonprofit from behind bars in 2022. His mother Madeline Davis-Jones attended the event.

"There's many reasons [I attended]," Davis-Jones said. "I teach school. My ancestors, especially my mother, was a very good role model. She always told us if we didn't vote, then we shouldn't have a say of any kind."

"Vote for Change" will hold their next event at the Plaza Walls in Oklahoma City on Friday, October 11.