The Last Suffrage Movement: Voting Rights for Persons with Cognitive and Emotional Disabilities

Although voting is recognized as a fundamental right, constitutional and legislative reforms have been necessary to prevent states from excluding certain individuals from voting based on their race, previous servitude, class, and gender. Most states, however, still exclude from voting one group of citizens—those who have cognitive and emotional impairments. This article addresses the political and legal arguments for suffrage for these individuals. It further argues that these provisions are unconstitutional, and proposes reforms consistent with constitutional requirements for protecting basic rights. Copyright , Oxford University Press.