This law was passed at a time when stigma against mental illness was much higher than now. I'm guessing it was presumed that folks with a mental illness could not reason enough to exercise an informed vote, which is not true, of course. If 1outta5 have a psychiatric illness, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, then there could have been a huge swath of disenfranchised voters.
And there already exists, to a degree, a basic cognitive test for voting -- navigating the whole ballot process. In Maryland, ours was electronic and no harder to use than an iPad, but I could still imaging some with severe dementia unable to navigate the system. But there should never be a cognitive bar one must pass to vote; the challenge would be where you draw the line.
hmm...I helped a consumer with a developmental disability vote one year. He could not read. I just read him the ballot. The election ladies seemed not to mind. Not sure what the law was about it. They probably had to read it to him officially
ReplyDeleteWe have to read exams to kids in school who are so designated. Thanks God they repealed that law. So many laws are stacked against mental illness, such as the law in California that allow electroshock therapy without patient consent here.
ReplyDeleteWow, didn't know that. I knew about a wierd law that was repealed in , the early 90's or late 80's (1900's, not 1800's) that you could shoot a Mormon on sight, in Missouri, but that's the only way outdated law I knew, not that I know much. (and um, legal murder? aside from the whole death penalty debate, this was a whole different animal . . .) um, yeah.
ReplyDeleteAnyway. Antiquated thinking and laws need to be put out to pasture.
Roy said,
ReplyDelete"But there should never be a cognitive bar one must pass to vote; the challenge would be where you draw the line."
I totally agree.
By the way, what about folks who vote based on someone's looks or some other criteria that has nothing to do with the candidate's fitness for office? I think they should be given a competency voter test.
Ladyk73, when my mother was still alive, I read her the ballot since she was visually impaired. If I remember correctly, she had to sign something authorizing me to do this. I can't remember if I had to sign anything or not.
AA