At 102 She Has Never Missed Voting In An Election

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM/AP) – It was 1932 when Hellen Porter cast her first ballot, she backed Herbert Hoover. She has voted in every election since.

"It's the privilege we have of living in the United States and the only way we can have any say in our government," says Porter. "If you don't vote, you have no reason or authority to complain if you don't like the outcome of the election."

This year's presidential race is a little more challenging for Porter, "I've never seen anything this ugly. I could see where children watching this would be a little upset and confused about why adults have let this happen."

A native of Iowa, Helen Porter grew up in a family of Republicans, but her political views began to shift when she saw the impact of food assistance, the New Deal and other government programs during the Great Depression. "I would say FDR was the most impressive president I have ever seen," reflects Porter.

She and her husband "started from nothing" after marrying in 1935, but by 1943, had saved enough to buy 200 acres to farm, and by 1958, owned 610 acres. Widowed in 1969, Mrs. Porter moved to Texas in 1995 to be closer to two of her three children. She has eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Helen Porter resides at Brookdale Club Hill, a senior living community in Garland and says this time she will be voting using an absentee ballot.

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