People with Disabilities: Past
The evolution of guardianship and voting in Minnesota has led to greater protections of the right of individuals with disabilities to vote. All individuals with disabilities retain the right to vote, unless a court determines that the individual lacks that capacity specifically.
Federal law and court decisions protect the voting rights of individuals with disabilities even if a state constitution limits those rights based on disability or guardianship. Such limitations must be based on a case-by-case Taking every case individually, meaning that no judgment can be made for a whole group of people basis regarding the person’s actual capacity to vote, not on broad generalizations, stereotypes or outdated ideas about disability.