101-year-old woman continues her voting streak

Tuesday, November 4, 2014
VIDEO: 101-year-old voter
A 101-year-old woman doesn't let anything stop her from voting.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's Election Day across America and in Philadelphia there is one voter who hasn't missed an opportunity to cast her ballot in more than 80 years.

It wasn't a question whether Ceola Baldwin would vote today. The question was - when?

And 2:00 p.m. was the perfect time because that's when Art Haywood, Democratic nominee for the 4th State Senate District, offered to give her a ride.

"To see someone so committed to participating year after year, recognizing the importance of voting," Haywood said.

At age 101, she remains fiercely independent.

For as long as she can remember, she's been voting at Harambe Baptist Church on Chew Avenue.

"I never missed an election," Baldwin said.

As for her thoughts on President Obama?

"Well, he's my boy and his wife is my gal," Baldwin said.

In her earlier years, her 80s, she worked the polls and today, continues to send a powerful message.

Future voter 13-year-old Nycea Morris took that message with her.

"I learned that no matter how old you are, she still had time to come here every year," Morris said.

Current voters also realized that Ceola Baldwin will make it difficult to not vote.

"I have no excuse even when I get tired, I will think back on this day and say you remember that beautiful woman, 101 years old, got up to vote. What is your excuse? Get on up. Go vote," Heidi Council of Germantown said with a laugh.

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