ethical voting dilemma

[Thurston Fluff]

I have a borther living with me that is mentally challegened. He understnads he isn't as sharp as others but really hates not being able to do things other people his age get to. Last Tuesday I voted and he asked me if he would get to vote. I see no reason why a 35 year old adult citizen of this country shouldn't be able to regardless of his intelligence so I'm leaning toward letting him. I'm just not sure how to make sure he understands teh machanics of how to or how I should go about helping him understand what/who he is voting for. I do not want him to just vote the way I do since, to me, that is like me getting two votes. I'm thinking of making a list of things that are improtant to him and helping him with who best represents his interests. Does that sound reasonable?

The other aspect is how do I help him understand how to vote. He can read words but cannot comprehend sentences easily so I think he can figure out the name of the person he wants to vote for. Though as I've learned sometimes he will surprise you at how well he can screw up fairly simple things. Is it even legal to help him in the voting booth? Would it make sense to get an absentee ballot and help him that way? Or would it just be better to allow him to vote knowing he may not vote for the guy he wants to realizing the ability to vote is more improtant to him than one vote for someone he may not like?

 

I hope this isn't to political since it has nothing to do with party or policy but if it is so be it. I can respect the decision to lock if necessary.

[Brian the Automator]

I think it's extremely thoughtful of you to take this so seriously. I would go the absentee ballot route with him. We all have varying degrees of intelligence and all of our voices should be heard. I think if you explain the issues that you think are important to him and do your best to explain where each candidate stands, you're doing a great job.

[rluzinski]

You either have a system that tries to control who should have the right to vote or you you don't. If he wants to vote, he gets to vote. I see no problem with it.

[Thurston Fluff]

I feel the same way Russ though I'm open to critisism if there is any. My two real problems are the mechanics of it, which an absetee ballot should help and him having his own voice not just be a parrot of mine.

[Fatter than Joey]

Would it make sense to get an absentee ballot and help him that way?

 

Yeah -- I'd do this.

 

In Oregon all the votes are done through the mail -- and in Oregon they will have a number of measures that are written in a less than straightforward manner, and my mom will have to work through them with my dad, who doesn't have the patience to get through the whole proposition.

 

I don't think there is any question that your brother should be able to vote -- I think the only moral dilemma is you will need to make sure you don't lead him in a direction that is more yours than his -- like my mom does with my dad. He ends up voting a lot different than his actual politics....

[jaybird2001wi]

As a person who works in the Mental Health profession, your brother does have the right to cast a vote. It is actually written in the State Department of Health and Family Services for Resident Rights.

During a Resident Rights class, an individual can vote for anyone they feel. I was told they can vote for themself as a write-in or even Mickey Mouse. But as stated above, you can go the absentee route. Just head to your City/Town/Village Hall and head to the clerk's office and get an application.

I remember some of the residents I deal with at the group home went to the polling place and voted a long time ago and one resident voted for himself as President. It may not be the smartest idea, but they are following their rights as citizens.

[dadofandrew]

Absentee would be much easier and better.

[mothershipconnection]

Really, we're all just as malleable, it's just that our motivators are more inconspicuous. I know many smart people who voted when they first had the chance based entirely upon who their parents told them to vote for. One girl I know voted for who her recently-deceased grandfather "would have voted for". Whether your IQ is 50 or 150, voting for who you're told to vote for all counts the same way in the end.