100-Year-Old Voted in French Town Since 1948
Why this is here: Jeanne Caillard’s consistent voting record—spanning over seven decades—highlights a dedication to civic duty maintained despite significant vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration.
Jeanne Caillard, a 100-year-old resident of Saint-Malo, France, voted in the recent municipal elections and has not missed an election since 1948. She cast her ballot on March 22nd, having only submitted one blank vote in over 75 years of participation. Caillard, a former teacher of physical education, dance, and yoga, stays informed about politics through radio and news articles read to her by her daughter.
France has over 31,000 centenarians, with more than 80% being women, according to 2024 data from the National Institute of Demographic Studies. Limited mobility often restricts participation in both local and national elections among this age group.
Estimates suggest the number of centenarians in France could reach 200,000 by 2070. While no mayor over 100 was elected, several politicians over 90 years old won new terms, including Guy Delattre, 94, who secured his tenth term as mayor.