Comment Author maryd CommentTime 32 minutes ago edit delete
There is a run off election today for the Democratic candidate to run for US Senate. I asked DH if he wanted to go with me. We discussed the two candidates and decided on our choices. I wrote it down for him. We were the only people voting. He checked in okay, but when he looked at the ballot ,he said to me what do I do with this. There was only one item on the ballot. I pointed to the circle he had to fill in and he said which one. I pointed at the candidate he had chosen and I written on a piece of paper for him. I think he filled it in, but I am not sure. I guess he will have to vote at home or not at all in the future.
My DH always wants to vote. The last few time our area used the computer touch-screens. When we went in, he showed his ID, signed his name, then I told the worker that he has Alz. but knows about voting and who he wants to vote for, that he might need help with the computer. They had me sign a form saying I was assisting him. Well, he worked the computer better than me! However, this last May, they switched to paper ballots and I knew he really didn't need to go to the voting booth. He did know about the candidates and who he wanted. So, I applied for and got both absentee ballots for us. Told them he couldn't stand in line that long (which he can't) and I had to assist him, then asked if I could also get the absentee ballot- they said yes, since I "took care of him". So....it was so easy and he had time to sit and read the ballot and decide. I will continue to do this as long as I feel he is capable of voting.
My DH votes and has for sometime by absentee ballot. In CA it comes to the house, you fill it out and send it back. This year mine didn't come so I called the county recorder and asked where it was..got another , filled it out but took it myself to the polling place. If I had to take my hubby's to the polling place he would have to sign a spot on the back saying I had authority to take it for him. So it has not been a problem. He still "gets it " enough to know who he wants to elect..that could change someday.
My DH has always voted for the same party (even held a local office) so although he no longer understands what it's all about I just do an absentee ballot for him and vote for that party.
I was shocked last novemeber, when we went to vote, I asked the poll worker if I could go in to help my dh and he let me. so altho I voted already, basically, I told him which levers to push. Now, I know how he votes, and he always votes the same as me, so .... I was not doing anything against his will. They did not have me sign a sheet saying I was assisting like Vickie did. I never thought of getting the absentee ballot. we never have a line, so he was ok. this year, I'll be bringing his walker so he can sit down. If I feel he can vote.
Because next Tuesday, November 2, 2010 is Election Day, I brought this discussion to the top. It is my opinon (JMO) that it is very important that those with AD who are still able to understand candidates and their positions are allowed to vote. It is also my opinion that those who can no longer understand should not be allowed to vote. Sure, we can tell them who to vote for, but that IMO is unethical.
As slow and forgetful as Sid is, he still has enough of an understanding of his long standing political philosphy to know for whom he wants to vote. We received a sample ballot in the mail and went over it carefully. I was convinced that he understood why he wanted to vote for which candidate. He filled in his choices, and took it with us to the polling place yesterday for early voting.
We got an absentee ballot this year. DH did very well in filling it out and he knew who he wanted to vote for. However, if I had taken him to the voting precinct to vote, with all the commotion, people, etc., I'm sure he would not have known who or what to vote for. However, I do think this is the last year I will let him vote- simply because he doesn't REMEMBER he voted nor who he voted for - although he knew at the time.
My DH is not voting this year. He does not know who the candidates are and I it would be me voting twice. I have been a political junkie as long as I can remember. My dad was a barber and always brought his political discussions home and since my mother was not interested I was the one to listen. In the 7th grade I wore a Windell Wilkie button to school with only one more classmate who agreed. Dad and I had a lot of arguments over the years and we both loved it. Now it's just me and I listen to both sides of the discussions. I believe this is the most interesting election that we have had in years and I will be up late watching next Tuesday.
I don't think my hb really knows there's an election. I'll go to the booth myself on election day instead of voting early just because I like the "feel" of going there. My bil oversaw elections overseas once, as lines snaked down and around blocks. I wondered, being the impatient soul I am, if I would have done that.
I'm getting to the borderline of "not sure." Jeff voted in the primary...I filled out the form that allows me to accompany him (and besides, everyone at our polling place knows us.) Still, I had the feeling as I "helped" that I was doing little more than voting twice.
For the general I intend to go over and discuss the ballot options with him before we go, so that I am certain he's made a selection and we don't need to be talking about the choices right then and there.
But, as I say, we're getting close to the point of "forget it." Obviously this is one of those areas where the caregiver has to act responsibly, and they either will or they won't.
Even my 20 year old daughter, though, texted me the other day and said "I have an absentee ballot. Who should I vote for?" So I said that candidates xyz were endorsed by certain causes of interest to her, so perhaps that could be the basis for her choice.
We sent our ballots in last week. I had to research online cause they do not send out voters pamphlets anymore or at least we don't get them. Could be cause many receive their mail here but we only receive one which I think gets chucked. Washington, as is Oregon, is mail in ballot only. I can't remember the last time I went to a polling place to vote. They seem almost archaic like rotary phones. Speaking of rotary phones - I got an email the other day with a picture of a 'senior cell phone': when you opened it is was rotary not push button.