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My dad has dementia but would like to vote in the 2016 election.

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Pam, you've reminded me of an early Women's Suffrage poster I saw when my mother was working at the Museum of London. The caption went "What A Woman Can Be And Yet Not Have The Vote" over illustrations of nurses, school teachers, social workers etc. and compared these with "What A Man etc."

The illustration for "Lunatic" made me laugh out loud even then, long before political correctness came along. Think Marty Feldman playing a zombie...
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Yes, a person with dementia can vote regardless of their capacity. It is clearly stated in the Electoral Commission's guidance for Electoral Registration Officers that mental health conditions do not constitute a legal incapacity to vote, so a person would not be stopped from voting at the polling station.
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Too late to request an absentee ballot now. Assistance laws vary by state, but in PA, yes you can assist your father.
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I think perhaps Veronica meant " apply ty o gote by absentee ballot"?
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Veronica91, where do you live that you have to apply to vote each election?

Having a diagnosis of dementia does not prevent voting. Four years ago I got an absentee ballot for my husband with the idea I would help him use it if he had a "good day" but otherwise would not mention it to him. He did have a period where he was very lucid and we went over the ballot together. My mother died a few months ago, but if she were still with us we would not be having her vote. She simply was not "with it" enough.

I have never been to an election site where it was not allowed/encouraged for persons to help one another. In addition to booths at my voting place, you can vote at tables, and sit next to someone who needs your help.
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As long as Dad has not been definitely diagnosed twith dementia my guess is that he has every right to vote. Too late this time but he could have applied for a postal vote. As Jessie sugestedsee what help the voting station can give. By the way did he actually apply to vote this time?
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CM, in this election, I'm not sure sound mind really comes into play....sigh.
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Interesting technical point. Perhaps you'd better check on your state legislature's website to see exactly what voters' qualifications are. If people who are not of sound mind are excluded, and if your father lacks legal capacity (hard to judge, but if it's on record then you know where you are), then he would not be able to vote.

But if there has been no such declaration, or no such exclusion, and your Dad has "good days" and knows how he wants to vote, then yes by all means carry him there if you have to! Help him "rush to assembly"!
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Yes, most states will allow a disabled person to have help when they vote. Talk to the people when you come in to let them know your father needs your assistance.
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