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Pamela 2nd Feb 2022 Activity Director
OK - so I'd like to start a discussion on supporting our residents in their right to vote in local, state and federal elections. I'll be surprised if there aren't others out there struggling with the same issues that I do. In my facility (and every one I've worked in during my 30+ year career), it falls on the Activity Dept. to assist residents who want to vote: to register to vote, complete requests for absentee/mail in ballots, and then assist them in completing and mailing the ballots in a timely manner. Here's the problem...competency. There do not appear to be any guidelines from our state DOH that help me qualify who is competent to vote. It makes me very uncomfortable that I'm expected to make that decision without any guidelines. I've struggled with this every year. Oh - and the other half of that coin - the families whose Mom or Dad is CLEARLY not competent but insist that you get them a ballot and "I'll help her fill it out - I'know how she would vote". Nooo - you are voting twice the way you want to vote - now that puts me in a position of supporting election fraud. How are you all dealing with these issues?
Susan 2nd Feb 2022 Activity Director
Hi Pamela
I have always allowed residents to vote even if they only understand one question on the ballot such as voting for president
I know that absentee ballots for each state differ but in Massachusetts the person assisting the voter to vote had to sign the ballot
You could get social service involved if you have issues because they are better equipped to handle those especially with families

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