by Lynda Kohn

Created on: September 07, 2010   Last Updated: September 08, 2010

My article will deal with voting laws in the United States of America since I am unfamiliar with the legalities of voting in other nations. The fact is the requirements to cast one's vote in the ballot box are the following:  Being a  legitimate citizen of the US.  One's age being 21 or older and registered to vote.  That's it.  It doesn't give any other qualification.

I worked as a disability advocate, in particular mental advocacy for over twenty  years. I am currently working for a rehab center.  Of course I would be for people with mental illness to be able to vote.  However it isn't only my experience in fighting for the rights of persons diagnosed with psychiatric disorders.  It's the fact that voting is a fundamental right of every US citizen, be they natural or legalized.  I am definitely not for letting illegal aliens, no matter what their mental status vote.  Disclosure on a personal note: I am successfully being treated for a mood disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder.   I know from personal experience that these people are not psychos, maniacs, or any other demeaning term.  They are people with an illness who can function with the right treatment and support, be it family, friends or local community.  

If anybody with a mental disorder is prevented from voting, that person is totally denied access to political candidates who could influence their life.  There is a saying in the disability rights movement. "Nothing about us without us."  Any policy, no matter what it is that could affect persons with a psychiatric illness could be passed without any say so by the people most affected.   Of course family members, relevant professionals can vote.  But that's far from letting the people directly concerned vote.  

The Bazelon Mental Health Law Center, the leading national law firm dealing with mental health rights issues, definitely feels strongly on mental health consumers voting.  They believe voting is the MOST fundamental American right.  They state too that it is illegal to detain anyone from voting because of incompetency.   I do not mean to imply persons with a mental diagnosis are incompetent.  Mental illness and incompetency are not synonyms.  The one person who can determine incompetency is a judge.  A mental health professional, provider or anybody in any psychiatric

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