Examining Voter Capacity for People with Intellectual Disabilities: How Do Polities Deal with the Right to Vote?

Abstract

In many countries and political systems, people under guardianship due to intellectual disability are deemed legally incompetent and restricted from voting access. In this paper, the goal will be to sketch out a global landscape of intellectual disability voting rights and guardianship law and make an argument on the significance of the “decision” to vote. The paper will seek to answer the following questions: How do polities deal with the right to vote for people with intellectual disabilities under guardianship? How should a state handle this population’s voting rights? Through an analyses of 161 countries' constitutions and electoral laws, this paper provides a descriptive analysis of the global policy landscape. This paper can provide a jumping off point for further research into intellectual disability political participation, representation, and furthering the ideal of universal suffrage.