Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media, Law & Policy
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Media, Law & Policy

‘Coronavirus Isolated Nursing Home Residents. Now It Might Keep Them From Voting.’

Wednesday, October 14, 2020, By Lily Datz
Share
COVID 19Faculty VoicesOp-EdVoting
Nina Kohn

Nina Kohn

Nina Kohn, the David M. Levy L’48 Professor of Law and faculty director of online education in the College of Law, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post titled “Coronavirus isolated nursing home residents. Now it might keep them from voting.”

Professor Kohn is an expert on elder law and has extensively researched the civil rights of older persons. Kohn says that nursing home residents have always faced challenges voting due to “limited mobility, physical infirmity and the restrictive reality of institutional life,” but the pandemic has only exacerbated the situation.

Prior to the pandemic, nursing home residents would often receive help voting from family members or outside voter support groups. But the pandemic has halted all of this, as visitors are barred from facilities and residents are unable to risk infection by leaving to vote in-person.

While older persons have every right to vote, Kohn argues that most states and nursing home facilities are not doing as much as they could, or are legally obligated to do, to support voting efforts during the pandemic. Kohn says to rectify the situation states should facilitate supervised voting in nursing homes and must treat it as essential work.

“Voting is the only remaining source of political power for most nursing home residents. They can’t knock on doors or march; many can’t even mail a letter, send an email or make a telephone call without assistance. And the casual, all-too-tolerated disenfranchisement of nursing home residents sends the message that they are not full citizens worthy of respect,” Kohn says.

  • Author
  • Faculty Experts

Lily Datz

  • Nina Kohn

  • Recent
  • Dining Centers to Resume In-Person Dining Monday, April 19, at 11 a.m.
    Sunday, April 18, 2021, By News Staff
  • Libraries Receive Two Access and Digitization Grants
    Sunday, April 18, 2021, By Cristina Hatem
  • Pre-Registration Open for On-Campus Vaccine Clinic
    Friday, April 16, 2021, By News Staff
  • Commencement 2021 Update
    Friday, April 16, 2021, By News Staff
  • Activities for the Weekend of April 15-19 | Submit Proof of Vaccination
    Thursday, April 15, 2021, By News Staff

More In Media, Law & Policy

‘Biden is Considering Overhauling the Supreme Court. That’s Happened During Every Crisis in US Democracy’

  Thomas Keck, professor of political science in the Maxwell School, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Post titled “Biden is considering overhauling the Supreme Court. That’s happened during every crisis in U.S. democracy.” Keck, who serves as the Michael…

‘Putin’s Rules of the Game’

Brian Taylor, professor of political science in the Maxwell School, wrote an op-ed for Foreign Affairs titled “Putin’s Rules of the Game.” Taylor is an expert on Russian politics and recently authored “The Code of Putinism,” published by Oxford University…

‘Should the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Required for the Military?’

Mark Nevitt, associate professor in the College of Law, authored an op-ed for Just Security titled “Should the COVID-19 Vaccine Be Required for the Military?” Nevitt specializes in national security law and previously served as a tactical jet aviator and…

Alumni Provide Support to WAER Students at the NCAA Tournament

When the Syracuse University men’s basketball team ended its NCAA Tournament run last month, it also marked the end of a long season for the student media broadcast team at WAER. Newhouse School of Public Communications seniors Corey Spector, Cooper…

‘Has Marijuana Changed or Have We?’

Dessa Bergen-Cico, professor of public health in the Falk College, authored an op-ed for Syracuse.com titled “Has marijuana changed or have we?” Bergen-Cico is the coordinator of Falk’s addiction studies program and has expertise in addiction, drug use and mental…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.