Former US President Jimmy Carter, who recently turned 100 years old, exercised his right to vote in the 2024 election by mailing in his ballot. The Carter Center confirmed this news in a statement, revealing that Carter voted from his home in Plains, Georgia, where he has been receiving hospice care.
This significant act took place just two weeks after Carter’s milestone birthday on October 1. According to his son Chip Carter, the former president was very much focused on participating in this election. Chip Carter shared with The Associated Press, “He’s plugged in… I asked him two months ago if he was trying to live to be 100, and he said, ‘No, I’m trying to live to vote for Kamala Harris.’”
While the Carter Center did not provide additional details about the voting process, it is clear that Jimmy Carter’s commitment to democracy remains unwavering even at his advanced age. In Georgia, where Carter resides, the voter turnout has been exceptional since the commencement of early voting, with close to 460,000 individuals casting their ballots in-person or via absentee ballots by Tuesday afternoon, as reported by Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
It is worth noting that in Georgia, a vote received by local election officials through an absentee ballot is considered valid, even if the voter is deceased by Election Day, which falls on November 5. Robert Sinners, a spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, affirmed that state election regulations dictate that once an absentee ballot is received, it is deemed to have been cast at that moment.
Jimmy Carter’s dedication to fulfilling his civic duty despite his age serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of participating in the democratic process. As the world watches, Carter’s actions symbolize a commitment to upholding the fundamental right to vote, no matter the circumstances.