Many states now interpret federal "motor voter" laws broadly to require mental health agencies to help all their clients register and vote in national elections, even those with mental ages down to 5 or 6. The Chicago Tribune reports that one newly qualified Illinois voter took 20 minutes to write her first name at the registration desk. Another was registered despite the fact that repeating the last words he heard seemed to be his only ability to communicate. Relatives fear the clients will be ridiculed at the polls and that agencies' personnel, while supposedly assisting them to vote, will simply complete the ballots as they wish.

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