Healthcare organisations and nurse leaders have an important role in promoting patients' right to vote, through the development of policy guidelines, integrated networking and innovative practice. Patients' mental capacity to vote is usually assessed by nurses, who must therefore be aware of clients' voting rights and if the right resources are in place to help them do so. Patients' rights, as citizens, are recognised in law and in professional guidelines, but more needs to be done to protect their voting rights. There should also be better access to transport and family support, and more flexible electoral procedures. This article reviews the literature on promoting patients' participation in local and general elections and suggests that their voting rights should be endorsed by organisations and nurse leaders through policy guidelines and a flexible and proactive nursing approach to participation.

During periods of ill health people may become disenfranchised. This article offers guidance on issues relating to voting rights. Both nurses' and clients' potential for participation can be enhanced by an understanding of the mechanisms set out in the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1983 and the European Parliamentary Elections Act 1978. Through apolitical advocacy, nurses can assist patients in claiming their right to vote, since RPA 1983 applications by citizens require the nurse, midwife or health visitor to attest the client's claim of temporary or permanent incapacity which prevents their poll attendance on election day. Electoral registration officers are proactive in the formulation of registers with the aim of maximizing the numbers of eligible voters. However, they are not in a position to identify the health problems of particular individuals.