Voting Rights for Those with Disabilities
In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed. Among a number of provisions, the rights to vote for those with disabilities was included. This provision was placed in to ensure that anyone with any kind of disability would be ensured to have equal voting rights. Although this idea was greatly embraced, there are thousands across America are being stripped of their rights due to their disabilities.
What is Being Done?
As of now, there are 39 states that have the right to strip away one’s rights to vote due to disabilities. For those living with disabilities, the law requires that a guardianship be put in place. To be considered for a guardianship, a judge would have to deem a person unfit to complete daily tasks. For the court of law, the term that is often used is “mentally incompetent.” Unfortunately this term covers a broad range of disabilities and not just those that would greatly hinder someone from voting. This is a major issue, as this definition has led many capable people living with disabilities from voting.
Importance in Future Elections
This has led to many voting rights groups, such as the American Association of People with Disabilities, to fight for a change in the unlawfulness of stripping ones right to vote away. It has been estimated that 56.8% of voters in 2012 were disabled, but that this number could be on the increase for the 2020 elections. This could be a huge factor for those seeking seats throughout the nation, and to acknowledge the rights that are being taken away from voters in this group would be a major factor for many political leaders.
