Addressing the ethical, legal, and social issues raised by voting by persons with dementia

JAMA. 2004 Sep 15;292(11):1345-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.292.11.1345.

Abstract

This article addresses an emerging policy problem in the United States participation in the electoral process by citizens with dementia. At present, health care professionals, family caregivers, and long-term care staff lack adequate guidance to decide whether individuals with dementia should be precluded from or assisted in casting a ballot. Voting by persons with dementia raises a series of important questions about the autonomy of individuals with dementia, the integrity of the electoral process, and the prevention of fraud. Three subsidiary issues warrant special attention: development of a method to assess capacity to vote; identification of appropriate kinds of assistance to enable persons with cognitive impairment to vote; and formulation of uniform and workable policies for voting in long-term care settings. In some instances, extrapolation from existing policies and research permits reasonable recommendations to guide policy and practice. However, in other instances, additional research is necessary.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Civil Rights* / ethics
  • Civil Rights* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Dementia / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Long-Term Care
  • Mental Competency* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Mental Competency* / standards
  • Policy Making
  • Politics*
  • United States