2008-11-19

Voters' traditions go back

Courtesy of The Advocate
By Sarah Lipman
Special Correspondent

STAMFORD - Lucie Philibert, 102, has a tradition that dates to the 1920s, when she became a U.S. citizen: She votes in every presidential election. Philibert, who emigrated from Canada, said she can recall women fighting to earn the right to vote, casting her ballot in wartime and during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

"Becoming a citizen was such a proud moment, because then I was able to vote in the elections," the Stamford woman said. "I always vote for the best candidate, and this election is like that." She will vote today at First Presbyterian Church, as she has for more than 60 years. Philibert said she supports U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for president because she has voted for the Democratic ticket in every election. She will be accompanied by fellow residents of Atria Senior Living on Third Street.

Sara Bromley, a director for Atria Stamford, helped arrange for seniors to vote. Bromley has registered residents, helped some vote by absentee ballot and will shuttle them to the polls today. Nearly 90 percent of the residents will vote, Bromley said.

"This is a very active group, and I think whether we organized this or not, they would have been out for the vote," she said.

Other senior centers, such as Sunrise Assisted Living, also arranged for residents to vote by absentee ballot over the past two weeks and will help them get to the polls today.

"Transportation is an issue for many of our seniors, and it's just as important for them to vote as it is for anyone else," said Marie Johnson, executive director of Senior Services of Stamford.

According to the Pew Research Center, people 65 and older are more likely to vote than those younger than 30.

Bromley, a former history teacher, said she's learned that most seniors are fond of the 32nd president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Philibert said his presidency was the most memorable. "He had many wonderful programs, and he had such an exciting presidency," she said. At the time, Philibert worked at Pitney Bowes as a "Rosie the Riveter" while many men were fighting in World War II. She learned to work on machines with her mother, and when the men returned from war, she kept her job. Like many seniors, Philibert said she believes in the importance of voting because she has seen the right evolve.

Ben Servidio, a 76-year-old Stamford resident, said he is amazed at how voting has changed over the years. A registered Democrat, he has not voted for the Democratic ticket since John F. Kennedy. Servidio said he will follow his tradition today and vote for Republican John McCain. He has seen many elections that caused controversy, which is why he chooses not to vote along party lines, he said. "It's not about the party - it's about the person who will do the best job possible," Servidio said. "I vote for the person I like, and I don't care if he's white, black, blue or green, or whether they are a man or woman." In his first election in 1948, Servidio voted for Harry Truman. "I remember everyone thought he was going to lose," he said. "The newspapers even printed the wrong headlines and (Thomas) Dewey had been declared the winner. That was a controversial election." Servidio said he has paid close attention to this election because of the history of voting struggles. "Voting is one of the greatest privileges given in the United States that everyone needs to take advantage of," he said.

Edith Friedman of Stamford, 94, said she always votes because her parents, immigrants from Russia, could not. Politics were important to her parents after they settled in the United States, she said. "We talked about politics almost every night at the dinner table," Friedman said. "Sometimes we would have to shy away from some conversations, but everyone in my family took part in politics." Friedman voted for Obama by absentee ballot. She's witnessed many historical elections, but this is one of the most exciting, she said.

"To see a black man in the role as president, or a woman as vice president, is so exciting," Friedman said. "After all those years of going to the polls, it's fabulous that there's something new on the ballot." - Special Correspondent Sarah Lipman can be reached at sarah.lipman@scni.com or 203-964-2214.