Casting His First Ballot: Voting Experience of a Young Adult With Autism

The following story was written by a mother of an 18-year-old son with autism, sharing her experience with assisting and supporting her son to vote for the first time, and in the midst of a pandemic. This story demonstrates the importance of encouraging, supporting, and providing accommodations for civic engagement opportunities for all young people.

Monday, October 26, 2020 was the first day for early voting in Maryland, which was also at the height of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. My 18-year-old son approached me that morning, thrusting his communication device into view; his screen portrayed the homepage of the Maryland State Board of Elections and voter registration details for the 2020 presidential election. This might seem a usual action for emerging adults in Maryland; however, my son, CJ (our family’s nickname for Curtis Allen, Jr), was diagnosed with autism soon after he turned 3.

Today, my son can say only a few key words and primarily communicates using his electronic device. Looking back to his first birthday celebration, my husband and I knew CJ had not reached typical milestones, such as saying “dada” or “mama” or waving goodbye. His diagnosis was a challenge for my family, including his 2 siblings. Access to information and resources for his issues at the time was scant because autism was not as prevalent as it is today. Over the years, as we navigated our way in seeking out optimal resources for CJ, we were compelled to share tips and tools to help other families through the Autism Grind, an online resource I helped launch via social media. We now have a fast-growing presence across social media outlets that allows families to share resources that have been effective in optimizing outcomes for their children and adolescents and provide a network of support.

When CJ showed me the voting page on his communication device, he was being clear; he wanted to vote! That morning over breakfast, he had heard the conversation between his older sister and me regarding our plans to vote. I was thrilled to learn of his interest and eager to include him in our plans, yet aware of his severe anxiety that new situations and crowds create. To alleviate his anxiety, I informed him of the sequence of events required for his participation, including reviewing the ballot. Luckily, CJ’s assigned voting location was at his local high school, a familiar surrounding for him. Together, we waited in line for ∼30 minutes before we reached the entrance. More than once, I reminded CJ to follow social distancing protocols in place because of the pandemic. He is among many individuals with autism who tend to stand close to people, including strangers, unaware of “personal space.” Yet, he quickly followed my prompts; it seemed he understood this was an important event that had rules and regulations. I was pleased I had chosen to vote in person versus a mail-in or drop-off ballot to show him firsthand the significance of the voting experience.

I informed the election judge that he had a disability and that I would assist him. The election judge handed us a small bag with the iconic “I Voted” sticker and pens to circle choices for the ballot. As we headed to the voting booth, the election judge smiled and nodded at me, acknowledging that she knew my son was disabled. She asked me if this was his first time voting, and I said, “Yes.” She started clapping along with the 2 election judges who overheard the conversation. CJ circled his choices in the voting booth with no confusion or anxiety. Then, he rocked back and forth, which always signals he is happy with his accomplishment. Once we settled back into the car, I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw he had placed his “I Voted” sticker over his heart.

Reflecting on my son’s first voting experience, I feel great pride in his civic engagement, particularly given the history of voting access in the United States. African American men were not allowed to vote until the 15th Amendment was passed in 1869. He may not have been able to pass the literacy tests implemented during the Jim Crow laws because of his disability. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 may have cleared the way for him to vote, but the American voting age was not lowered to 18 until 1971.

I have always aimed to instill a sense of empowerment in my children, especially their capacity to enact change. I sincerely believe a parent’s role is to promote civic engagement habits and underscore the core tenets of democracy, including the concept that every vote counts. Civic engagement must, however, be instilled early, supported, and modeled frequently. It is not just the responsibility of parents/caregivers/families, but also the broader community, including pediatricians, who are a trusted source of information and guidance for the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Looking back, I see we overcame obstacles that might have hindered this valuable opportunity for CJ. Neither coronavirus disease 2019 nor autism posed a barrier to his experience. CJ watches the news and follows politics more closely now. Deep down, I know he will continue to do his part and be a voter for life.

Author Note: CJ was aware and excited that this article was being written and would be published in Pediatrics.