Older Population Anxious To Make Their Vote Count

PEORIA -- Local seniors are eager to exercise their right to vote. One Peoria Retirement home said the interest is higher this season than in years before.

72-year-old Roy Gebhart said, "I think Thomas Jefferson said it, if you don't vote then you have nothing to complain about."

That seems to be the common feeling at the Independence Village Retirement home.

Activities Director Dee Dee Cribbs said she has many residents anxiously awaiting for their voices to be heard.

Cribbs said, "There has been a lot more interest in fact, we have a resident who registers voters here."

She said more than 75 percent of the residents will take advantage of the on-site voting that the facility offers.

Right now this room is set up for the weekly Bingo game, but come election day, it's a busy polling place.

Gebhart said, "I live down the hall, all I have to do is walk down the hall, vote and I'm through with it."

While many residents wouldn't say who their choice for President is, they did share some of their biggest concerns.

101-year-old Margaret Colgan said, "What's important to me is the times improve and that people in office can provide jobs and people will work."

95-year-old Don Oldt said, "Military is very important to me and taking care of our wounded and praising the boys that are over there now giving their lives."

Gebhart said, "I'm interested in education. That's really gonna change."

But whether you lean to the Left of Right, they are encouraging each other to take advantage of the opportunity they have. Gebhart said, "I hope that when people go to vote that they don't worry about Democrats or Republicans they go to vote for the man or lady that stands for their ideas."

According to the U.S. Census, in 2008 the older population had the highest voter turn out of any age group.