However, to raise awareness among other elderly women about the importance of voting, she travels much greater distances. In practice,she actively seeks out other workers and grandmothers, like herself, so that they do not forgo their right to vote.
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In the community where Maria Alaídes lives, there are 150 families, but she is concerned about other five communities in the region: São José, Mata dos Reis, Marajá Alto Alegre, Estirão and Pau Seco.
"We seek to motivate by explaining that it is very important for people to register their vote. No one should be discouraged," says Maria, who has seven children and seven grandchildren.
As a leader of an interstate movement of coconut husk collectors, she argues that rights and public policies are achieved through popular participation.
Coconut husk collector Maria Alaídes participates in the Voto 70+ movement.Maria Alaídes Alvas de Souza/ Personal archive
Voting is a source of pride. I vote to maintain rights and for democracy.
Among her priorities is addressing climate change, which directly impacts the activities of coconut husk collectors.
The estimate is that there are more than 300,000 workers in the states of Maranhão, Pará, Piauí, and Tocantins.
Popular participation
Women, such as Maria Alaídes, are enthusiastic about the elections, even though voting is not mandatory for people in her age group, they deserve the historic struggle for women's suffrage.
The abstention rate of people over 70 years old fell by almost 10 percentage points in the first round of the elections, according to a survey by theMovement Voto 70+.
According to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE),the percentage of voters in this age group who did not vote increased from 58.8% in 2022 to 49.1% in the first round of 2026.
In order to further reduce this abstention on the next Sunday (25), the apolitical movement promotes the "Grandma Votes" campaign, which proposes bringing grandchildren and grandparents together during the elections.
One of the messages is that,even if the person did not vote in the first round,may participate in the second, without any restrictions.
Now, I will
In the city of Orizona, 130 kilometers from Goiânia, Maria Albino Costa, 85 years old, did not vote in the first round because she found it difficult to go to the polls with so many numbers to write or remember. On the last day of October, the voter chose deputies, senators, governors, and president.
But this time, it's only for the presidential position. So, I will vote this time. My daughter and my granddaughter will take me. I need to ensure our rights. I insist now.
Maria Albino Costa did not vote in the first round, but will appear at the polls next Sunday (25) -Maria Albino Costa/Personal Archive
The retiree has lived in the countryside, worked as a cafeteria worker and domestic worker, and says that she does not like to miss the election because she spent a lot of time without voting during the dictatorship (1964–1985). She also wants to be an example for her seven children, 22 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Her daughter, teacher Sandra Oliveira, 48, was the first in the family to pursue higher education, and says she is very proud of her mother's journey. She often cites her in her rural and urban classes, where she has heard sexist comments from students against women's suffrage:
I tell stories of my mother and other women who did not have rights. We need to ensure our space.
I was afraid
The retired teacher Maria José Cantarelli has already obtained the electronic voting title -Maria José/ Personal Archive
The retired teacher Maria José Cantarelli, 80 years old, who lives in Olinda (PE), also did not vote in the first round. In fact, she has not participated in elections for 12 years.
However, she spoke with her children and granddaughter at home, and concluded that the moment requires making an exception.She expresses her concern about the emotionally charged atmosphere on the streets.
"There are offenses and aggressions that make us afraid. There is a lot of violence in the streets, and people's emotions are very high," she recalls.
She had her voter registration card in her closet and couldn't find it anymore. However, she had already downloaded thee-título applicationto vote on October 25th.
Maria José said that she has kept the electoral documents throughout her life and will be able to have them in her ID card again. The granddaughter, also named Maria, is 19 years old and was happy with her grandmother's decision.
Vote for rights
There are many inspirations for these grandmothers, such as in the house of Francisca Barroso Monteiro, 84 years old, who currently lives in the city of Nova Iorque (560 kilometers from São Luís-MA).
She says that the right to citizenship enabled her to fight for her 10 children to attend school.
I always told my husband that they would go to school. I didn't go to school because I didn't have the opportunity. But my children, yes. That's why it's very important to vote.
She hopes that the election will ensure that there are representatives who will not allow the lack of medicine or food for children or the elderly.
Difficulties
In Rio de Janeiro, Prazeres Maria da Silva Antunes, 72 years old, hopes that she will not experience the same headache as in the first round, when she faced long queues: "it took a while for them to start calling the elderly".
It was also not easy for the 79-year-old retired Beatriz Cintra Labaki from São Paulo. She had to climb stairs at her polling station.
A resolution by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) determines that elderly peoplehave priority serviceat the polling stations, without the need to wait in the common queue.
In addition,accessibility measures must be guaranteedto ensure autonomy and security during the voting process.
Beatriz relied on her son's help to reach the classroom and the voting booth. To choose her candidates, she considered their stance on health and education issues.
It's pointless to be elected and just sit there. You have to be active and enjoy working with the population.
Memories
Suely Mendonça is proud to participate in the elections -Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil
On the 25th, older people will also remember the importance of voting.Especially because they were unable to choose a president for more than two decades.
The retired Carioca Suely Mendonça, 79 years old, says that she is moved when she walks to the voting booth:
It is the moment when I feel most involved in the life of the country. I have always studied in public schools, from basic education to higher education. There was the military coup and I was studying.
She recalls that teachers could not mention song lyrics and that films and plays were censored.
I participated in the Diretas Já movement, which marked the beginning of the redemocratization. I never associated my vote with a party. I chose the candidate based on their commitments and their struggle against the dictatorial regime.