Vote in European elections. - Possibly over 120,000 individuals with dementia amongst Hesse's electorate.
In the European elections on June 9, individuals with dementia are allowed to participate. The German Alzheimer Society estimates that in Hesse, there are approximately 122,000 dementia sufferers aged 65 and above (data as of end of 2021). Across the state, a total of 4.85 million voters are eligible to cast their votes, including around 100,000 individuals who are 16 or 17 years old.
There isn't a specific "election registration for individuals with dementia or other health issues," says deputy state election official Jonas Fischer. As a result of changing demographics, the number of people with dementia is increasing.
Fischer stresses that the constitutional right to vote isn't affected by personal abilities or the extent of a health impairment. The Federal Constitutional Court also declared in 2019 that the previous restriction on people with dementia from voting if they have a legal representative handling all their affairs was unconstitutional.
If they want assistance, people with dementia can ask someone else for help when casting their votes. Relatives and caregivers are authorized to enter the polling booth to aid dementia patients with their ballots. They can also provide support for postal voting. These helpers must maintain secrecy regarding the patient's voting decision.
According to a Wiesbaden dementia expert who wished to remain anonymous, families often encourage postal voting. "Or they don't vote at all because of the inconvenience. The responsibility on many relatives is immense." There's a possibility that some helpers might unconsciously vote for the party the sick person used to support. "But that's just conjecture," the expert said. "It's a complicated situation."
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Source: www.stern.de
