TYLER, Texas — Jessie Caldwell Jr. is a World War II veteran and a lifetime voter — and at 100 years old, he cast his ballot for the 2024 presidential election.
Caldwell has voted since he turned 18 years old, when he voted in the 1942 midterm elections. He previously served in the military as a laundry mechanic during WWII.
"I started at an early age, and this whole time I have had the privilege to vote, so I still want to vote," Caldwell said, adding that he plans to vote again in the next upcoming election if he's still able to get to the polls.
Caldwell's daughter, Janet Tatum Cobb, said her parents have instilled in her the importance of voting in all elections — especially presidential elections.
"We have discussed the differ presidents of their era and we agree we are slowly changing but still have a long way to go," Cobb said. "They lived in depression, wars and inflation timeframe and are still living."
She added that she is "honored to be voting with him today."
Caldwell shared his advice for young voters hitting the polls: educate yourself on your candidates and show up to the ballot box.
"Take very close interest in the candidates first before they think about going voting, and be sure they go vote each year," Caldwell advised.
Cobb echoed her father's sentiment in a statement to CBS19:
"Research the issues and choose who closely meets your moral values and standards and vote accordingly and let your heart do the rest," Cobb said.
And he's not alone — 100-year-old Beatrice Jones cast her ballot at the Heritage Building in Tyler as well. She was accompanied by her daughter, Tina Williams.
CBS19 has a comprehensive guide to voting in East Texas here.
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