STOCKTON, Calif. (KCRA) – A 102-year-old World War II veteran recently found out he could no longer vote after California officials mistakenly removed him from the state’s voting rolls, assuming he had died.
Army veteran Marvin Lykins is 102 years old and a proud voter who chose Franklin D. Roosevelt in his first election. He says the only elections he’s missed were when he was fighting in World War II.
“I think everyone should be able to express their opinion on who’s running, their policies and political standing,” Lykins said.
The veteran’s daughter, Diana Larson, says she and her father study issues and propositions together before casting their ballots. When she received an email from the California Secretary of State’s Office stating her father’s voter registration was canceled, she immediately called the office.
“I don’t know if it’s legitimate or if it’s a hoax, if it’s some type of a scam. They were able to confirm with me that he was no longer registered to vote,” Larson said.
Officials say that every quarter, the California Secretary of State gives county election officials a list of registered voters who’ve had a birthday that makes them 100 years or older and could be a potential match for a deceased record. Using that list, officials in San Joaquin County mistakenly canceled Lykins’ voter registration.
“Unfortunately, there are people who will assume that. Just because you’re 100 doesn’t mean you’re dead,” Lykins said.
The veteran’s daughter helped him re-register to vote, and he’ll be able to exercise that right in the next election. He wants the county and the California Secretary of State to know he’ll keep voting as long as he can.
Meanwhile, Larson is concerned about other families with 100-year-old voters.
“They may not even be aware of it until they get ready to vote in the next election,” she said.
San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale says Lykins was impacted by a rare clerical error in an isolated incident. She says her office has implemented additional staff training to ensure the error doesn’t occur in the future.
Hale added the county sincerely values Lykins’ “dedication as a voter over the past eight decades and appreciate his family bringing this issue to our attention.”
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