Voting Rights > Parental Rights

During elections, I frequently volunteer to help at the polling stations. In the Netherlands, you are allowed to enter a polling station with other people, but once you’re handed your ballot paper, unless you have a very good reason to (for example, a blind person, or someone who can’t tick the right box because of Parkinson’s), you’re legally mandated to enter the booth on your own, so that your vote is kept secret and no one can force you to vote a certain way.

It’s not illegal to say who you voted for, but it is illegal for someone to be able to check, in case of abuse or vote-buying.

A crucial piece of background information: I am autistic, and as I look like a relatively well-put-together woman, I do not fit the “stereotypical” look.

During the last elections, I was at one point stationed next to the booths to ensure no one entered together and to provide help in case someone needed it. Enter two women who come in together. They hand in their voting passes, receive their ballot papers, and move towards the booths, the younger of them going in first, at which point I notice the older woman moving to enter the booth right alongside her. I step in.

Me: “Pardon me, ma’am, but you’re not allowed to enter the booth with someone else. The next one over is available.”

Woman: “Oh, no, it’s okay, I’m her mother.”

Me: “I’m very sorry, but because of the right to keep your vote a secret, that would be illegal.”

Woman: “Oh, but she needs my help! She’s autistic, you see!”

Me: “Oh, so am I! But you’re still not allowed in!”

The woman stared at me, completely shocked at what I just said. I think she was looking for a new excuse, but by then her daughter had already left the booth, ballot folded tight, so the woman deflated and went to cast her own vote. I hope the daughter is doing okay, and I’m glad that at least that day she managed to vote for whoever she chose.