81-year-old woman votes for the first time in her life

COVINGTON, Ga. (WSB) – Early voting is taking place in Georgia this week.

A record number of voters young and old are casting their ballots, but an 81-year-old woman is voting for the first time in her life.

“I’m 81 today, but I’ll be 82 on Sunday,” said first-time voter Betty Cartledge.

Cartledge has seen a lot in her 81 years, but she has never seen the inside of a voting booth.

That was until Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m going to vote for the first time in my life,” Cartledge said before casting her vote.

With the help of her niece, Cartledge voted for the first time at a polling place in Covington.

Cartledge says she has never voted because her husband didn’t think she should.

Her husband died last year.

This year, Cartledge voted.

“I was so young and when we got married I never thought about it,” Cartledge said. “And then when I got old, I still didn’t think it would count.”

Bryant Hairston is also an older voter, but he is markedly different from Cartledge.

“Everyone is trying to get out here and vote before the last day and the long lines. I was in and out,” Hairston noted.

Hairston says he votes in every single election, big or small.

“Every election is important, right? But I really had to get in here,” Hairston added.

While Cartledge had a little help leaving the polling station, she says it was an experience she’s obviously been waiting for a lifetime.

“It was neat. It was good,” Cartledge described.

Early voting in Georgia ends November 1st.

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