Only with continued strong leadership will the residents, staff, and facility be safe from actions, whether inadvertent or deliberate, that violate state and federal laws.
Once an assessment has been performed and vulnerabilities identified, facilities can begin to develop policies, procedures, and training.
It is important to ensure the votes of vulnerable citizens are protected and counted fairly. Here are a few key points from the Center for Vulnerable Voters Senior Citizen Voting Bill of Rights that outlines what vulnerable voters can and should expect from our election systems.
Once residential directors have identified any facility vulnerabilities, it is important to implement policies and procedures to protect the residents, staff, and facility. It is crucial to educate staff on state and federal voting laws, as well as criminal penalties for vote fraud. Directors can be held responsible for staff failure to comply with the law.
It is important for residential communities to perform a self-assessment to protect the voting rights of residents and protect the staff and facility from legal issues and bad publicity. Asking the following questions may be helpful in identifying any vulnerabilities.
A resident has the right to participate as much or as little as they want to in the election process, and they should be protected from those who may wish to suppress their free choices.
Some of your residents may be considered "non compos mentis" -- a term that means they are “not of sound mind.” Whether those residents have been legally adjudicated as mentally incompetent, or not, staff and family members need to be careful to not violate state and federal laws during the voting process.
Once residential directors have identified any facility vulnerabilities, it is important to implement policies and procedures to protect the residents, staff, and facility. It is crucial to educate staff on state and federal voting laws, as well as criminal penalties for vote fraud. Directors can be held responsible for staff failure to comply with the law.
It is important for residential communities to perform a self-assessment to protect the voting rights of residents and protect the staff and facility from legal issues and bad publicity. Asking the following questions may be helpful in identifying any vulnerabilities.
Once residential directors have identified any facility vulnerabilities, it is important to implement policies and procedures to protect the residents, staff, and facility. It is crucial to educate staff on state and federal voting laws, as well as criminal penalties for vote fraud. Directors can be held responsible for staff failure to comply with the law.