PUHI — “My name is Mary Heddleston, my husband is buried on Heroes Hill, and I voted for my whole life long,” the lady who will celebrate her 100th birthday later this month, said Tuesday afternoon at the Chiefess Kamakahelei
PUHI — “My name is Mary Heddleston, my husband is buried on Heroes Hill, and I voted for my whole life long,” the lady who will celebrate her 100th birthday later this month, said Tuesday afternoon at the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School polling place.
Heddleston was one of many who did their civic duty around the nation.
“I’m going to get to vote,” Heddleston said. “It’s in the newspaper. I vote as a Democrat my whole life long. I’m 100 years old. I don’t know about the presidents, but I know Harry Truman. He and I are good friends — we used to throw kisses at each other. My father would hold me at the office window so I wouldn’t fall out.”
On the other side of the age spectrum, Sophia Galindo, 4, proudly displayed her Kid’s Vote ballot which she got to fill in alongside her mother Jennifer. “She really wanted to vote,” Jennifer said. “So, I just created a ballot for her that she could vote on while I did my voting.”
Categories on Sophia’s ballot included questions like favorite ice cream, favorite person to spend time with, and more. Sophia was one of many youngsters who accompanied their parents who turned out to cast their ballots at the CKMS polling place.
“Turnout has been pretty brisk,” said Mike Kano, the precinct chairperson. “We’ve been pretty steady through most of the day. There might have been a few times when no one was around, but for the most part, the turnout has been good.”
A voter requesting anonymity was upset there were no “I Voted” stickers.
“I voted at the Koloa polling place,” the voter said. “I have my ticket as proof I voted, but they had no stickers. I had to come to Lihue so I stopped for a sticker. The precinct workers said Hawaii has no stickers. That is not right. Hawaii voted. We have the right to bitch — we voted!”
