DeBarre Johnson

At age 18, Lawrence resident DeBarre Johnson registered to vote, and two years later she participated in her first presidential election — John Kerry versus George W. Bush.

Johnson, who remained unaffiliated with a political party, voted in local, state and national elections in the years since.

She’s never worked for a campaign or openly advocated for a particular candidate, but she’s always voted. And now, she’s taken up an effort to make sure others do the same.

DeBarre Johnson

Event flyer

After witnessing the public’s absorption over this year’s presidential race — and hearing many complaints about it from friends and acquaintances — Johnson, 32, set out to organize a voter registration drive to motivate people “to be part of the solution.”

“You have so many people who complain about how the world is, or the things going on in society, who are just watching TV, but then there’s not any action behind any of the things they’re saying,” Johnson said. “It makes no sense to me to want change so bad, yet put no action behind any of the words you speak.”

The registration drive will be held Saturday at three locations: the downtown Lawrence Farmers Market, Watson’s Barbershop and PTB Gym.

It will run from 7 to 11 a.m. at the farmers market, located off the 800 block of New Hampshire Street, and from noon to 4 p.m. at Watson’s, at 925 Iowa St., Suite K, and PTB Gym, 940 E. 28th St.

Johnson’s registration drive, which is open to any unregistered voter, is targeted especially toward the local black community, she said.

Talking to those in the community, Johnson said she was surprised to learn some people had never exercised their right to vote.

She also wants to use the drive to educate people about who can vote and when. She noted felons could vote in Kansas after serving their term of incarceration plus parole and probation. Kansans who are 17 years old but turning 18 by the next general election are also allowed to register — something many aren’t aware of, she said.

Mostly, Johnson wants people to exercise their voting rights, not only in this upcoming election but also in local and state elections going forward — as she has for 14 years.

“This is my first time stepping forward like this,” Johnson said. “I just want to do my part. I want to see change. If somebody else isn’t doing it, and I feel like this is something that needs to happen, maybe I’m the one who needs to start it.”