During the last presidential election, abstention among 18-24 year olds reached 21.3%, while among those over 80, it reached 31.5%. It’s a little less well-known phenomenon, but abstention among the elderly is significant. This abstention is often suffered, because the elderly have difficulty getting around, but here in the Versailles Normand retirement home, the ten or so residents able to vote have decided not to slip their ballot into the ballot box.
“The gendarmerie moved for a single power of attorney”
“During the last elections, I always had ten residents who voted, but this year there is no one. However, I warned the families that there was the possibility of making proxies, but my residents do not wish to vote, so the gendarmerie moved to the EHPAD on Monday to make a single power of attorney” explains Laure Da Graça, director of the Versailles Normand establishment.
“Voting is no longer my age”
Louise, 93, has voted all her life, but this time she prefers to abstain. “I know that women fought for the right to vote and that it is an important duty, but I am too old. Voting is no longer my age. Make way for young people!” she replies with a smile.
Same for Bernard, 88 years old. This former commander of the gendarmerie, did not make power of attorney because for him, “This is useless”. “I watched the debates a little, on television, but they are all the same. I’m tired of voting for nothing to change”he adds.
Residents without family, who cannot entrust their power of attorney
Among the 6 million French people who are over 80, 2 million have no families, which explains the abstention among this age group. This is the case for Louise and Roger, who have no one to entrust their power of attorney to.
“We can’t vote, because no one can drop off our ballot in our village in Surtainville. It’s a shame… I knew who to vote for, I already had someone in mind, but we don’t have a family to whom to give power of attorney”explains Roger, 92 years old.