Voter participation among people attending mental health services in Ireland

Abstract

Background: People with mental illness experience social and political exclusion but there is limited understanding of voting behaviour in this population.

Aims: This study assessed voter participation and attitudes towards voting among people attending mental health services in Dublin, Ireland.

Methods: Psychiatry outpatients and inpatients were studied over2 months following Ireland's 2016 general election (n = 117). Characteristics of participants who did and did not vote were compared and reasons for voting choices explored.

Results: Over half of participants (52.1%) voted (national rate 65.1%) although more (83.8%) were registered. Forty-one percent had insufficient information about voting: the most common information deficits related to voting rights (31.6%) and voting in hospital (18.8%). Inpatients (20.0%) were substantially less likely to vote than outpatients (63.2%). Majorities endorsed the importance of people with mental illness voting. The most common reasons for not voting were being in hospital (32.1%) and not being registered (30.4%).

Conclusions: Politicians should note that a majority of people with mental illness are outpatients and a significant proportion vote. Voting among inpatients has improved since 2011 but more information and support are needed to optimise voting rates in this population.

Keywords: Mental health services; Mental illness; Social exclusion; Voting.