To Vote or Not to Vote

One issue I had never considered until November 2nd was how TBI could affect voting.  For many clients, voting is something that just slips off their radar.  But for some, it remains an important civic duty that must be taken seriously.  However, many things can complicate this process.  There's one issue that I don't entirely understand, and that's how legal stuff can impact clients' abilities to vote.  Some of the clients I work with are not legally responsible for themselves.  Another issue is being registered on time.  A lot of clients aren't very good at planning, due to injuries of their prefrontal cortex.  They may forget to register on time or even forget the process altogether.

Another concern that I have but haven't been able to see a whole lot of is convincing clients to vote for a candidate without really exploring their other options.  I have heard rumors and stories about campaigns going to nursing homes and similar establishments and just telling the residents that a particular candidate is the right choice.  I do know that through TBI sometimes the values clients have can change, and sometimes they remain intact.  Some clients are able to stick with the same party both before and after a traumatic brain injury, but sometimes things that happen  can cause changes in the way someone thinks.  Some clients are able to choose the candidates that they would like to endorse, but others often forget names and can become easily confused with the amount of information presented via TV, signs, and even online.  To further complicate matters, it's often difficult to get clients to their voting places.  The vast majority of them are not able to drive, and it can be difficult when a client suddenly decides they would like to go vote, when things need to be scheduled ahead of time.

I myself find voting to be a difficult process on occasion, and I can't imagine trying to do it with a brain injury. However, the feeling of participating in something that could promote change in our country is something that I don't think anyone should be denied.  I know that clients get that same sense of importance, and next time I will know to plan ahead for such an occasion.