Else Pazin, 89, advocates for voting in Brazil

Else Pazin, an 89-year-old resident of Urupês in the interior of São Paulo, has become a symbol of civic engagement in Brazil. Having lived through the 21-year military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985, Pazin views the right to vote as a hard-won privilege of redemocratization that should not be taken for granted.

Her commitment comes amid rising electoral abstention rates in Brazil. During the recent first round of elections, over 33.4 million voters—approximately 21.08% of the eligible electorate—did not cast ballots, the highest level since 1998. In São Paulo, the abstention rate reached 22.56%.

Pazin emphasizes that citizens must take action through the electoral process to help the country improve. Her perspective aligns with broader demographic shifts, as data from the Federal Senate indicates a 14% increase in elderly voters since 2022, with seniors now representing 23.6% of the national electorate.