Everyone with dementia has a right to vote. You do not need to have mental capacity to vote.
The Mental Capacity Act provides a framework for making decisions on behalf of people who lack mental capacity to make a decision, but this does not apply to voting. It is up to the individual to choose if they want to vote and who they want to vote for. No one can do that on their behalf.
Even if someone is acting as an attorney or deputy, they don’t have the right to decide how the person they represent should vote. However, people with dementia may face practical barriers when the time comes to go to the polls.
For example, they may need to be reminded of the date or need support getting to the polling station. They might also need extra help when they are at the polling station. Someone who can’t sign their name can use the Signature Stamp Attestation form that allows them to vote.
First, have them fill out the mail-in ballot. It is OK to help someone mark their ballot. If they are not able to sign their ballot, take the ballot and the Signature Stamp Attestation form to your local elections office.
Benton County Election Office
4500 Research Way, 2nd Floor, Suite 200, Corvallis
Linn County Elections Office
421 Water Avenue, 1st Floor, Albany
Print the voter’s name on top of the signature form. Give it and the ballot to an elections official. They will have the disabled person make a mark, like an X, on the form and on the ballot. Then the ballot can be accepted.
