Cognitive Impairment and the Right to Vote: Rethinking the Meaning of Accessible Elections

Canadian Journal of Elder Law, Vol. 1, p. 29, 2008

24 Pages Posted: 13 Feb 2009

See all articles by Nina A. Kohn

Nina A. Kohn

Syracuse University - College of Law; Yale Law School

Date Written: December 15, 2008

Abstract

Persons with cognitive disabilities can face formidable barriers to voting as a result of their disabilities. While some of these barriers are the unavoidable result of those disabilities, others are constructed by third parties. Given the deleterious effects that these constructed impediments may have on the civil rights of the cognitively disabled and on the democratic system of governance, democracies should take affirmative steps to increase the cognitive accessibility of voting systems. Just as democracies have found ways to make voting more accessible to persons with physical disabilities, democracies can and should design voting systems that make voting more accessible to those with cognitive impairments. This article identifies several approaches to doing so and recommends further research to guide such reforms.

Keywords: Voting, elections, disability, cognitive impairment, civil rights

Suggested Citation

Kohn, Nina A., Cognitive Impairment and the Right to Vote: Rethinking the Meaning of Accessible Elections (December 15, 2008). Canadian Journal of Elder Law, Vol. 1, p. 29, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1342681

Nina A. Kohn (Contact Author)

Syracuse University - College of Law ( email )

Syracuse, NY 13244-1030
United States
315-443-6565 (Phone)

Yale Law School ( email )

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