In Hart Hill, 91-year-old Herman Hemmings is carried by two supporters. He has lost his sight, but still clings to his civic duty of choosing his parliamentary representative. "Someone will make the X for me, but they know who I will vote for," he says with gusto. - photos by norman grindley/chief photographer
The nation's two major political parties spared no effort yesterday in getting voters out to the polls for the by-election in West Portland. Below are images of the elderly who were taken to place an X for their candidate.
"I am going to vote for Manley," says 90-year-old Iris Whyte, clad in a blue-and-white sweater. Although confined to a wheelchair, her disability is not an impediment as her son Mike Whyte escorts her to the polling station in Buff Bay. "I am not changing now," she mutters.
Centenarian Icilda Edwards waits patiently to cast her ballot. She "loves the excitement in the air", she whispers.