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Check on disabled and frail adults' voting!
- Nov 4, 2008 at 2:27 AM
- By
- Comments (14) Total Views (585) Everyone can see this journal post.
Poll
Question: Are you aware of fraud involving disabled or frail voters?
Total Votes: 51
There are thousands, perhaps millions, of adults who are living in group homes, nursing homes, assisted living, dementia care and similar facilities in America. Legally, these people all have the right to vote, even if someone else has custodial guardianship, power of attorney, etc.
Of course every American should have the opportunity to vote, but unfortunately the law doesn't always require families to be involved or informed about the process. I heard a heart-wrenching story this week of an Iowa mother whose 26-year-old severely disabled son was registered to vote against her express wishes, and despite her request that he not vote since he couldn't read the ballot or understand the process, he was snuck out of the care facility who "helped" him vote, and the family found out after the fact.
This is happening in multiple states, EVEN with residents with severe cognitive impairment, and without standardized laws about this, it is hard for families AND disabled persons to know their rights. This makes them easy victims for potential fraud with absentee ballots OR at the polls.
I urge everyone TODAY to check on frail relatives and friends to make sure:
- You KNOW if they are registered (they can be registered by someone else in most states without a guardian's knowledge or signature). You should also see if this puts them in a jury duty pool, which can be a complication and frustration for disabled or frail people.
- Those who ARE cognitively capable have voted according to their wishes, and have help if they need it filling in a ballot, getting to the polls, etc. Make sure those who need help receive fair, non-biased help to vote, from someone they trust.
- Those who are NOT mentally capable of using a ballot and making a choice don't have their vote 'stolen' by someone else. In some cases, a formal court proceeding is required, but in most cases, you can preserve their dignity and minimize hassle by inquiring at the care facility about their policies.
- Research the laws in your state so you know your rights as a guardian and their rights as disabled/frail citizens.
This is NOT a partisan issue, this is a human rights issue. Please help us protect the most vulnerable voters and their rights.
If you are aware of fraud or coercion involving disabled citizens, please place a comment here or send me a private message. Thanks.
Comments:
*bump*...
I'm concerned that someone will take advantage of my mother who is in an assisted living facility. My older sister assures me that SHE will take her to the polls today, I just hope one of the staff doesn't take it upon themselves before that and push their agenda.
EXCELLENT post. Scary reality. We all need to be vigilant.
Good advice, voting up!!!
I had to vote other. This has never happened to me and I don't know of anyone it has happened to but I know it happens. If a person can't vote then a person can't vote, no one should guess who they would want to vote for!
Yes Inle_Rabbit, exactly. We're not mindreaders, that's why every person's privacy needs to be protected.
I figured as much. It was in the local paper here about how some "get out the vote" people (and I think we all know who that is) went to a nursing home and were asked to leave (visiting hours were over) and they kept pushing their candidate until they were finally kicked out!
yes i use to work in a group home for mentally ill and they took them to vote, most of them thought they were the devil or were so whacked out on meds or just really mentally ill so bad they saw things, etc. and they were out there voting, not a clue what for, just voting to do it......that's so messed up!
Update: media coverage of this is expanding, family of disabled adults have been calling in to radio shows please help spread the word. Thanks!
My sister witnessed suspicious voting today at her polling place. I told her to contact the voter fraud hotline.
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Very sad that people do things like this. Great post.
- psumom5
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