Mother wants to limit voting for disabled
Excerpts from the Gazette (Nov. 18):
Mother wants to limit voting for disabled
By Steve Gravelle
GRINNELL - Brenda Lyddon wants to change the state law so people like her son can't vote - at least without her supervision. . .
...Lyddon's son Kristopher Willis, 26, is developmentally disabled and lives in a Grinnell group home. She was upset to learn that staff at the home took her son to a polling place on Election Day despite her instructions not to. . .
...Lyddon, who unsuccessfully challenged her son's ballot, retains guardianship over him for most legal decisions. However, to prevent him from voting would require a court hearing...
...Lyddon supported and did volunteer work for the Republican Sen. John McCain. Her son voted for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. But she said that's not why she complained.
"He does not have the mental capacity to choose for himself," she wrote in an e-mail.
By Steve Gravelle
GRINNELL - Brenda Lyddon wants to change the state law so people like her son can't vote - at least without her supervision. . .
...Lyddon's son Kristopher Willis, 26, is developmentally disabled and lives in a Grinnell group home. She was upset to learn that staff at the home took her son to a polling place on Election Day despite her instructions not to. . .
...Lyddon, who unsuccessfully challenged her son's ballot, retains guardianship over him for most legal decisions. However, to prevent him from voting would require a court hearing...
...Lyddon supported and did volunteer work for the Republican Sen. John McCain. Her son voted for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. But she said that's not why she complained.
"He does not have the mental capacity to choose for himself," she wrote in an e-mail.
I'm sure we can agree this is just another attempt to deny disabled people their most basic freedoms, and should be fiercely opposed. No matter what your political affiliation is or who you voted for, this would seriously undermine the very freedoms so many fought and died to protect. I just can't believe the complete audacity of this woman. Who does she think she is to deny anyone their rights entitled to them as ADULTS!?! She definitely appears to be the type of parent who is very controlling, even though her son is of legal age and should be allowed to do as he pleases, just as a non-disabled person would.
I just can't believe anyone would find it to be the least bit acceptable to deny anyone their civil rights like this. It would be no different from when women and "colored" people were not allowed to vote. This can not be tolerated since it would have a profound effect on anyone who is declared to be disabled. This evil witch should have a restraining order against her to protect her son's rights, since she has no respect for them at all.
And one more thing, I can't honestly believe this has not at least been partly motivated by the fact that her son was voting for the "wrong" candidate, but I digress.
Posted by: fbug | December 07, 2008 at 12:00 AM