General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,664 posts)

23. The last time I did door-knocking,

Sat Dec 26, 2020, 05:37 PM

Dec 2020

One of the registered voters I was asked to contact was an adult individual with intellectual disabilities. I spoke with him at the door to his home, with his parents listening in. He was so proud that he was old enough to vote, that he was registered, and that he knew who he wanted to vote for - and could articulate why. His parents were pleased that their son was being given the attention he deserved as a voter and a human being.

People who are intellectually disabled, or mentally ill, do not lose their humanity or their right to participate in democracy merely because their abilities are fifferent from your own - or beause they are not legally competent to enter into a contract. That's not the criteria for voting.

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I believe it to be a fact that even people who have been diagnosed as insane and incompetent [View all] Atticus Dec 2020 OP

They are probably not competent to register treestar Dec 2020 #1

"Both sides", huh? Atticus Dec 2020 #2

you think all liberals are above getting senile parent treestar Dec 2020 #3

"All" of us? No, of course not. But, I am just ( perhaps ) foolish enough to think "nearly all" o Atticus Dec 2020 #6

This is ableist. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #4

Literally mentally incompetent treestar Dec 2020 #7

States have different definitions for "mentally incompetent," leading to a wide discrepancy with who WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #11

Just putting a label on something does not make it wrong treestar Dec 2020 #12

Labeling people "mentally incompetent" to vote when they are not is wrong, though. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #14

That is a legal standard treestar Dec 2020 #16

It's not, though. I mean, I suppose you can say "determined by a judge" is a legal standard, but it WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #19

It's not a requirement? Well I assume most people know treestar Dec 2020 #37

But that's the thing with voting. A person is free to mark their ballot however they want. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #40

"Courts won't grant guardianship without real evidence." thucythucy Dec 2020 #24

We tried to get my father in law committed... LeftInTX Dec 2020 #33

I'm sorry to hear about your family's troubles with the system. thucythucy Dec 2020 #43

No system is perfect treestar Dec 2020 #38

You may not be talking about "people who are disabled but still functioning" thucythucy Dec 2020 #44

Sometimes those Guardians will rip off the benefits the actual person deserves JonLP24 Dec 2020 #36

Absolutely. thucythucy Dec 2020 #25

In the U.S., insanity is a legal concept, not a medical diagnosis. mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2020 #5

If felons can't vote treestar Dec 2020 #8

In some states, Mr.Bill Dec 2020 #9

I don't know anyone who is diagnosed as "insane" stillcool Dec 2020 #10

the checklist for determining competency KT2000 Dec 2020 #13

One standard I have seen suggested is that if a person can express a desire to vote whether WhiskeyGrinder Dec 2020 #15

you mean physical accommodation KT2000 Dec 2020 #22

Reminds me of that DUer who knew they would be asked that treestar Dec 2020 #17

Ha!! KT2000 Dec 2020 #21

I suggest we create a test for critical thinking FakeNoose Dec 2020 #18

You mean like this one? Tommymac Dec 2020 #30

Maybe they have an interest in having a prez... lame54 Dec 2020 #20

The last time I did door-knocking, Ms. Toad Dec 2020 #23

What are the "criteria for voting" in your opinion? What about five year olds---have they Atticus Dec 2020 #26

The number of people who are mentally challenged who vote is a very, very small amount LeftInTX Dec 2020 #28

Anyone who has reached the legal age to be able to vote, Ms. Toad Dec 2020 #29

I am sure this could continue to go round and round, but as my one last question, if five year olds Atticus Dec 2020 #31

We have set the age of voting at 18 in this country. Ms. Toad Dec 2020 #32

I need to vote for progressives to protect my mental health coverage JonLP24 Dec 2020 #35

Agree LeftInTX Dec 2020 #27

Straw man treestar Dec 2020 #39

You are reading limitations into the OP that are not there. n/t Ms. Toad Dec 2020 #41

I don't think "insane" is a real medical diagnosis JonLP24 Dec 2020 #34

Many people seems to regard all those, whose views differ from their own, as idiots; but I think struggle4progress Dec 2020 #42