At 70 years old, Maria Aparecida da Silva made it to the polling station this Sunday (the 4th), accompanied by a neighbor and an oxygen tank. Due to her illness, she is missing one of her lungs and is completely dependent on this equipment for breathing.
Despite the difficulties, Maria insisted on voting and traveled with the tank beside her. For her, her vote is a way to participate in the country's decision-making process.
Maria stated: 'We are Brazilians, we must vote, right? Without a vote, there is no president, nobody will do anything, right? He has to lead everything.'
Even with physical limitations, Maria decided to cast her vote, although she is no longer obligated to vote. In Brazil, voting is mandatory for literate citizens aged 18 to 70.
Nevertheless, Maria emphasized that she is voting in hope for a better future for Brazil. In her opinion, the situation is developing 'too slowly,' but the vote is important for choosing the country's leadership.