Voting Rights : Mentally Challenged person's Fundamental Right or not?

Right to vote is the essence of any democratic society , as it fulfils one of the pre-requisites of democracy, that is, participation in decision making by the citizens. There should be an established parameter that can distinguish between unsound mind and mental illness. Therefore, People with a mental disability must have voting rights.

Arguments with the motion:

Researches during New York and Maryland elections have shown that voting pattern are similar to that of general public voting. Further people with chronic mental illness are able to understand the pattern of voting.

For example, person with autism is able understand and is able to perform day to day activity.

If a person with mental illness is able to cast vote they will be seen as part of constituency and the politicians will address their concerns more efficiently.

Further, the stigma of discrimination on basis of mental illness, which defeats the core of democracy and Human Rights will be withered away by letting a person with mental illness to use his/her francize.

Arguments against the motion:

People with mental illness cannot be treated as fare vote, as the do not enjoy unhindered sense of Judgement to make a choices. Therefore, if one is unable to distinguished between right and wrong or comprehend the situation, putting such restriction is not against the spirit of democracy and does not violates Human Rights.

People with mental illness should enjoy freedom and status given in democratic society, yet, there are certain bars due to mental illness, that cannot be over looked and giving voting right, when one is unable to efficiently exercise it due to the mental condition does not mean deprivation of Human and democratic Right .