When my husband went to visit his mom in LTC yesterday he was shocked to see her wearing an "I Voted" sticker. She said she voted. Not informed by admin prior or even after. We're assuming the ballot harvester was part of the staff, since they are still quarantining and limiting contact. Also, my MIL hasn't been able to write - anything - since 2019. We had given her a card to sign, she couldn't do it. I suggested she make and "X", she couldn't . I drew an X on another piece of paper, she couldn't even copy it. She has short-term memory loss and mild dementia and can't get out of bed on her own so I'm wondering just how she was able to sign a ballot? We've emailed the admin to ask for details on how they allowed this to happen. So, if you have a loved one in a facility who is capable of voting, please make sure you oversee this process for them or "someone else" will.
Here is a response from my MIL's facility about her voting...
"We take great care to prevent ballot harvesting. Our Life Enrichment team members were trained as Health Care Facility Election Judges this year to deliver absentee ballots to our residents and return to the City of __________. All ballots (for those registered) were delivered the morning of the scheduled voting (October 15th) and for accountability, two (2) HCF election judges together delivered the ballot to each resident who wanted to vote and ensured that they were able to vote for any candidates they chose. They remained with each resident while they voted and after completion of the ballot, it was sealed immediately and delivered back to the city the same afternoon.
Many of our residents vote for a specific party and opt to pass on selecting other offices such as city offices or judges.
If you want more information about how it was [my MIL], we can ask the judges. "
It seems that "responsiveness" is emerging as the bar which determines if some votes (and is assisted to vote) by election judges. Still, wouldn't it make sense to give the PoAs/guardians the option to be present when the voting occurred? They are there acting in their best interests on all other matters, why not this one? And how would they know if the resident didn't already vote? Do they ask them? Are they going to rely on the memory of the elder with memory issues and dementia?
"You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote.
You cannot vote if a court has ruled that you are legally incompetent.
As long as a JUDGE did not restrict your right to vote through court order, you have the right to vote when you:
- are under guardianship
- are under conservatorship
- gave someone power of attorney
- have a brain injury
- have a developmental disability
- have a cognitive impairment
- experience memory loss
No one else can make this decision on your behalf, including a spouse, children, attorneys, caregivers, doctors or nurses."
"...this decision..." being the decision TO vote, not WHO to vote for? Shockingly this says nothing about influence or pressure or filling out the ballot top to bottom, back to front FOR someone else, signing it and mailing it.
Translation: in MN your senior LO can have medically diagnosed full-blown dementia and can still vote and it doesn't matter if a total stranger (i.e. "harvester") "helps" them in person to vote without your knowledge. It states nothing about being able to sign their own names or mark an "X". It appears anyone can fill out their ballot for them. Now I understand why "harvesting" became a thing and why it is being fought over. Who on this forum thinks this is good policy?
I encourage everyone to check the laws in their state at the Secretary of State webpages for voting and registration.
I encourage all PoAs/guardians with LOs in facilities to make sure YOU are the ones overseeing their voting so that you can know for sure that fraud and influence has not occurred.
It is a problem if they are not capable of voting and a vote is taken.
I love my right to vote; no matter my condition I bet I will have a favorite; I will likely be dead 6 months and still trying to vote, but then I am from Chicago.
As divided as our poor beloved country is at this moment, half the populace thinks the other half is demented anyway!
I am teasing you here, but if you are uncomfortable, do call the LTC facility on Monday and speak with administration. Good luck; hope you will update us.