A resolution introduced Monday by Senate President Richard J. Codey would remove the archaic language, inserted in 1844, by proposing a constitutional amendment. The measure would have to be approved by both houses of the Legislature and by voters in November... [The state constitution] states, "No idiot or insane person shall enjoy the right of suffrage."
Kudos to State Senator Codey for backing this important measure! Six other states have similar provisions that disenfranchise folks, and it's high time that these states jumped into the 21st century (Hell, I'd settle for the the 20th century) and started getting rid of such antiquated, disempowering, meaningless... and, frankly, discriminatory items in the constitutions, regulations and laws that govern voting.
This simple truth is this: If you can't -- or don't -- vote, you're not likely to bend many ears in Washington, DC, at the State House or City Hall. And without that influence, it's easy to keep mental health issues (and the folks affected by them) on the margins.
So I guess what I'm saying is this: It's about time.
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