Loree Dobson, 52, is considering voting for Republican John McCain this year because he shares a first name with her father.
“I think that has something to do with it sometimes,” she said.
She’s voting for Christine Gregoire because Gregoire is a Democrat.
And perhaps among the most important votes to Dobson this year are those she will cast for local state representative candidates: Republican Skip Priest and Democrat Mark Miloscia. She’s voting for them because they are friendly.
Dobson is one of nearly 100,000 developmentally disabled or mentally challenged Washington state residents who are eligible to vote.
Edward Holen, executive director of the Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council, said he’s not sure what percentage of developmentally disabled adults choose to vote — but they are all eligible so long as they meet the regular requirements.
“People are entitled to vote. Disability doesn’t take away their constitutional right to vote,” Holen said, adding that severely disabled people are unlikely to want to vote.
“If somebody has such a severe cognitive disability that they’re unaware or unable to express themselves, they’re probably not going to be very interested in voting,” he said.
Thousands of other developmentally disabled people, however, are very articulate and interested in the political process. It is up to those individuals’ family members or caregivers to help them understand the issues and participate in the voting process, Holen said.
At Karon Allen’s Adult Family Home in Federal Way, owner and caregiver Karon Allen helps five of her six residents vote in each election.
“It’s their right and they have a right to be heard just as much as somebody who doesn’t have a disability,” Allen said.
Allen does not pressure her residents to vote one way or another. She encourages them to read the voters pamphlet. Some, she reads the pamphlet to them.
“It’s just their own decision, you know,” she said. “I read the voters pamphlet to them and then they decide.”
Each resident sits down with Allen and fills out their absentee ballot away from the other residents.
“So then they’re not influenced by what everybody else is voting for,” Allen said.
The residents all vote differently for each candidate and initiative, with the exception of the District 30 state representative position. Each resident in Allen’s home voted for Miloscia and Priest. The candidates are considered friends by the residents. Both go out of their way to chat and be friendly when they run into the residents at community events, such as the recent chili cook-off sponsored by the Federal Way Farmers Market.
“I don’t know if it’s because Mark and Skip know that they all vote, but they’re very nice to them,” Allen said.
At times, it can be hard to figure out some of the initiatives on the ballot, Dobson said. She reads the voters pamphlet front to back and also watches the television news and reads newspapers. She discusses some of the issues with her peers at Sound Mental Health.
Among the most important issues to developmentally disabled voters involves selection of candidates, Holen said. Because many disabled people rely on public funding to get the services and care they need, it is important for them to vote for elected officials who will support public health funding.
Disabled people are also often concerned about public transportation issues.
“Historically, the disability community has a lot of interest in what goes on around transportation,” Holen said. “There’s oftentimes not enough access to transportation.”
Dobson said she chooses to vote because it is the right thing to do.
“I’ll be able to see what I’m able to accomplish,” she said. “I think they need me so they can see how it comes out.”
