Fri 06-Apr-07 07:20 PM by Ruby63

Can anybody tell me whether people who are entitled to a Council Tax exemption on the grounds of 'severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning' whether they lose their right to vote.

I'm not sure what the query is.

The right to vote in England and Wales is based on having put your name on the electoral register, which in turn depends on nationality/immigration status and certain other statuses (eg not being a peer of the realm, traditionally). It's not related to liability to pay council tax as lots of people don't pay council tax, eg students, but still have a right to vote.

I don't know whether people with a severe learning disability are excluded from voting, but if they are it is only coincidentally related to any council tax exemption.

But of course, as often, there is a possibiity it is different in Scotland.

PS: a quick visit to Adviceguide indicates that disqualifications from voting are the same in England and Scotland and includes people with what it describes as a severe mental illness that prevents them understanding what it's all about (I paraphrase). I suspect that this is a simplification of the actual law and that there is case law (judicial review) on the point. If the issue is a learning difficulty, that is not a mental illness as commonly understood, but there may be definitions and deemings.