It’s hard to escape election news in the run up to November 5. Long term care (LTC) providers have the opportunity to play a significant role in helping residents exercise their right to vote.

• Every election, seniors and other residents have a right to make their voice heard, and providers should make every effort to assist them in doing so.

Take a look at the information and resources we have compiled to assist residents exercise this important right. We have included details on:

• how to help residents register to vote and cast mail-in/absentee ballots with Virginia-specific information;
• taking residents to the polls; and
• ways to have fun during election season;
• federal requirements for nursing facilities.

Help residents register to vote: The first step is making sure residents who want to vote are registered to vote. Deadlines to register vary by state; Check out Vote.gov to find the specifics for each state.

• Visit the Virginia Department of Elections website to start or update your registration online. Eligible individuals can register to vote by mail or in person.
• Note the Virginia voter registration deadlines for the November 5, 2024 election:

• • Online registration deadline: Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
  • Register by mail deadline :Must be postmarked by Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
  • In person registration deadline: Available up to and including on Election Day.

Virginia Department of Elections: Upcoming Elections

Help residents with mail-in/absentee ballots: For frail residents in LTC, absentee ballots may be an easier option than voting in-person.

• Virginia offers absentee and early voting options.
• Check out Can I Vote to find information about other states.
• When residents receive their ballots in the mail, ensure staff understand what they can and cannot help with when it comes to assisting residents in filling out their ballots. For example, an assistance provider should ask the voter what choice he or she wants to make. The assistance provider must never make assumptions regarding how a person wants to vote. If the resident has a Power of Attorney (POA), that person should be contacted about helping the resident fill out their ballot.
• Send in completed ballots as soon as possible, whether by mail or at local ballot drop boxes, if your state or county offers them.
• Many states also offer voters the ability to track their ballot online. Work with the resident or their loved one, if they wish to make sure their ballot was received and qualified to be counted. Sending in ballots quickly may help a resident address any issues flagged with their ballot promptly, to ensure it will be counted.

Take residents to the polls: With COVID no longer being the threat it was with the prior presidential election in 2020, facilities may also want to encourage residents to get out to vote.

• One option for getting residents to the polls would be setting up and providing transportation to a local polling location. Some ways to find the closest polling location to your facility include:
• Checking voter registration for local polling facilities
• Contacting state or local election officials for information on polling locations
• Using the polling place locator tool from vote.org
• If transportation may be an issue, setting up a polling location within your facility may be a better option.

Make it fun: Voting in elections has been an exciting time for many residents, for many years throughout their lives.

• Some facilities continue to celebrate this exciting time through celebrations that may include “I Voted” stickers or red, white, and blue balloons. Other facilities report they have a local elected official meet with residents prior to election season so they are educated about their rights and the processes they will follow. This could be a part of a residents’ council meeting, or a kick-off to the season. A #LTCVotes Campaign was recently initiated to encourage facilities to ensure residents have the right to vote.

Below are some suggested activities you can do to help make the election season fun for residents:

• Host a registration party
• Host a facility tour for candidates, so residents can get to know them, and elected officials can learn more about long term care
• Talk with residents about their history when voting
• Host trivia events related to election history
• Start a countdown calendar for how many days until the election
• Post pictures and videos of residents participating in election related events and using the #LTCVotes campaign hashtag and tag your community

Federal regulations:  For nursing homes specifically, CMS has regulations regarding residents’ rights, including their rights as citizens, which would include the right to vote:

• §483.10(b) Exercise of Rights.  The resident has the right to exercise his or her rights as a resident of the facility and as a citizen or resident of the United States.

• • §483.10(b)(1) The facility must ensure that the resident can exercise his or her rights without interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal from the facility.

• • §483.10(b)(2) The resident has the right to be free of interference, coercion, discrimination, and reprisal from the facility in exercising his or her rights and to be supported by the facility in the exercise of his or her rights as required under this subpart. 

Review QSO-24-21-NH for more details on how nursing centers can collaborate with states and localities to ensure  resident’s have the  right to vote.

Additional resources: The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affirm the right to a private, independent, and accessible vote for people with disabilities. Your state and local election commission can be a great resource on how the voting process in your state supports this right. Some additional resources to review are:

• 10 Tips for Voters with Disabilities, from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
• Assisting Cognitively Impaired Individuals with Voting: A Quick Guide (2020), American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• Disability Rights Network Fact Sheets on Voters with Disabilities
• • People with Mental Disabilities Have the Right to Vote
  • Providing Help to Voters with Disabilities: What You Should Know
• From the Alzheimer’s Association: Voting and Alzheimer’s Disease

Check out these organizations for additional resources on helping residents vote:

• Consumer Voice
• Disability Rights Network
• At a local level, you might also consider reaching out to your LTC Ombudsman office, the local AARP chapter, or your local election commission  to answer specific questions or get custom resources.