September 4, 2026 – Living in a nursing home does not take away a person’s right to vote. Yet residents may face practical barriers – such a registration deadlines, difficulty obtaining or returning a mail-in ballot, inaccessible transportation, or a lack of appropriate assistance – that can prevent them from participating in an election.
LTCCC’s new guide, Voting Rights in Nursing Homes: A Quick Guide for Residents, Families, and Those Who Assist Them, explains residents’ rights and offers practical steps to help ensure those rights can be exercised. The guide addresses:
- Planning ahead for registration, mail-in voting, transportation, and accommodations.
- Providing assistance without influencing or overriding a resident’s choices.
- Protecting ballot privacy and security.
- Supporting voters with physical disabilities or cognitive impairments.
- Responding when a resident is denied help or subjected to pressure or interference.
The guide also highlights the need for residents and their supports to be proactive. While federal protections remain in place, recent federal guidance is less explicit about encouraging nursing homes to plan for elections and affirmatively assist residents. Families, long-term care ombudsmen, advocates, and responsible facility staff should raise voting needs early and follow up before important deadlines pass.
A diagnosis of dementia or another cognitive impairment does not automatically make someone ineligible to vote. Residents should never be presumed unable to participate because of their age, illness, disability, guardianship status, or need for assistance.
Voting is a personal choice and a fundamental right. Advance planning and appropriate, neutral assistance can help ensure that living in a nursing home does not become a barrier to participating in our democracy.
Read the new guide and visit LTCCC’s Nursing Home Voting Resource Center.