At 87 years old, Anézia votes thinking about the future of her family and highlights the importance of elderly participation

At 87 years old, Anézia da Silva continues to stubbornly fulfill her commitment to "vote to build a better future". This Sunday (4), she makes a point of going to the polls. Her story as a voter began more than 60 years ago, when she chose candidates for her first election, and continues to this day.

Those who saw the vote receive more and more prominence and lived through a period where they did not have the chance to choose, today recognize that participating in the democratic game is a way of imagining a new future:

"This vote means a lot to me, as an elderly woman. Because we see few public policies aimed at us, even when we vote. Without voting, then, what will it be like? I'm not even saying it for myself, it's for my children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. I have a family after me, who needs my vote now", she shares with the urgency of someone who believes in a better quality of life for all people.

Voting has been a commitment considered fundamental for Anézia for more than 60 years.

Among its demands is active aging and quality of life. "Elderly people's participation in voting is because we want a better quality of life. It's not for us, but it will be for the future", highlights the retiree.

Therefore, she assumes the commitment with great responsibility: to make a conscious choice, Anézia watches the debates on television and chooses the candidate that best represents her.

Number of elderly voters increases in Brazil

Data released by the Federal Senate show that the number of elderly voters increased by 14% compared to the last national elections. There are 37.5 million people aged 60 or over eligible to vote this Sunday (4), and the group represents 23.6% of the Brazilian electorate.

In Juiz de Fora, one in every 4 voters is elderly. This is the highest rate of the age group eligible to vote ever recorded in the city, although it is not the highest absolute number. This percentage has doubled in the last three decades. In 1994, elderly people represented one in every ten voters, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

The elderly have the right to priority care, as do other groups, provided for by law. To vote, simply go to the polling place, between 8 am and 5 pm, Brasília time, and present an official document with photo.

Voting is mandatory until the age of 70, for literate people. After that, participation is optional. However, as Anézia teaches, the contribution of older people to democracy is a way of keeping alive the memory and perspective of those who saw, up close, the democratic process being consolidated.