MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
States Caring for Senior Voters
Seniors are dedicated to showing up at the polls, but they often need a little extra help. States are paying attention, creating new programs to help the elderly vote without risking voter abuse or fraud.
Stateline.org reports:
In the last presidential election, at
least 79 percent of those 65 and older cast ballots, compared to an
overall voter turnout of 52 percent, according to the U.S. Census
Bureau. And as the 70.3 million-strong baby boomers begin to retire,
the number of senior voters will soar, putting new pressures on
traditional voting systems.
... To help older
voters in this year's election and beyond, Vermont is testing a new "mobile voting" program aimed at ensuring that elderly residents in
nursing facilities get an opportunity to vote, without risking voter
fraud or abuse.
Under the plan, two specially trained
voting officials -- one from each political party -- visit nursing
facilities and personally assist residents who want to vote by helping
them fill out ballots on site. With two officials assisting each voter,
the likelihood of fraud or abuse is virtually eliminated, said Dr.
Jason Karlawish of the University of Pennsylvania's
Alzheimer's Disease Center, who is working with Vermont on the project.
Colorado, Maryland, Illinois and other states already employ mobile
voting for some low-income groups that have difficulty getting to
polling places, but Vermont's new program will be the first to cater
solely to voters in residential facilities.
Posted at 12:15:00 AM
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