PALTC Residents Right to Vote

This election season, let’s make sure that it’s easy for all post-acute and long-term care residents to exercise their right to vote.

Hi, I’m Chris Laxton, the Executive Director of AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Did you know that in 1984 the Federal Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act was passed, requiring all states to make sure that voting places and registration facilities were accessible to the elderly and the disabled. Let’s make it easy therefore for anyone residing in a post-acute or long-term care facility to exercise that fundamental right. If you, or a loved one reside in a post-acute or long-term care facility, here are a few things to think about. First, talk to someone at the facility and see what their policies are and how they can help you vote. Second, if you’ve relocated to a facility outside of where you were registered, you’ll need to register again under your new address. Third, find out if your facility can help you vote or get to a polling place. If they can’t, you must register for an absentee ballot. And finally, know that your facility staff must ensure that residents do have the ability to vote. But, they can’t vote for you, nor can they influence your vote.

If you need more information or guidance, please go to the September issue of Caring for the Ages,
and thank you.