As someone with severe depression, i find the stigma that surrounds this thread very very sad. For people to say "no they shouldn't vote cause they are all crazy and misinformed!" it is just like saying "I am misinformed about mentally ill people and they scare me and i don't want them to vote".

Now if you don't mind me, i have a life to get back too; i may not be super happy about it, but at least i'm still alive to feel that.

Maybe you should reread the thread ...

the mentally incapacitated should not be able to vote.

mentally ill is far too broad in its scope.

agree with tanya and lilith on this one. many forms of mental illness, does not mean they are not capable of making decisions.

Yes. Any American able to "voice" their option should be permitted to do so. Who are we to say whether or not their choice is within rational thought? How do we justify our own rationality in voting? This cannot be measured therefore there is no "rule".

As I said before, any American able to "voice" their opinion should be permitted to do so. When I say this, I do not mean physically vocalize their opinion...but in some form, style, or process it has been noted that their thoughts are their own and NOT anyone else's (family member, caretaker, etc)interpetation of who or what they are voting for. Their vote must be theirs and theirs alone...as rational or irrational as we may believe.

It was more or less aimed at that "tards" comment. But i do take it personal cause in rl when people find out that i suffer, they look at me like i'm going to shoot them. And thats where alot of anger resides.

What about prisoners? Using "able to voice their opinion" as a broad minimum requirement would suddenly allow prisoners to vote.

there are choices that one makes and one of them is to not be a felon if you do so then you lose rights ..

Good question. I was not basing my answer "able to voice their opinion" as a standard minimum voting requirement for ALL citizens...just mentally ill & hospitalized Americans as proposed in this topic. Convicted criminals is a different topic entirely....and No, they should not vote.

Shoes, you're acting like me, sticking your nose in questions which were asked to a different user!

I know and agree that felons can and do give up their right to vote upon becoming incarcerated. I was pointing out to twilight that in her defense of the mentally ill, she set a broad standard which would suddenly encompass prisoners under the category of those allowed to vote.

Edit: twilight...ok gotcha. good distinction.

Suck it buddy.

Why shouldn't us with illness be able to vote? Not something we have much control over, we are people and citisens too. Are we suddenly unable to have opinions? I'm sorry, but to keep us from voting is absurd and would be opressive;^]

Criminals make a choice to break the law, we have done nothing wrong;^]

I am schizo effective with a mild varient of aspergers, and my voice matters as much as anyone else;^]

In most cases yes! If someone is not treated or unwilling to be treated no. Those with mental disease should not be excluded. I'm pretty sure no offense intended but please understand or watch hurtful terms. She can't vote but I do find "retards" and terms like that offensive. When you watch someone struggle you see they have greater strength and fortitude, than most.
She is my hero.

If someone like Bush can be president, then I think anyone can vote. I think he brings the bar down to monkey voting.

Yes, why shouldn't the mentally ill be allowed to vote?

Bush was not elected in .. he stole the election using his brothers state to have chad problems ..

Well said

Thank You Twilights Twin.

Bush was elected fairly. All of the recounts showed this. In fact, after the recounts (wherein Democrats were caught cheating...one was eatting the chads) Bush had won by a slightly larger margin.