Voter participation among people attending mental health services in Ireland

Background People with mental illness experience social and political exclusion but there is limited understanding of voting behaviour in this population. Aims This study assessed voter participation and attitudes towards voting among people attending mental health services in Dublin, Ireland. Methods Psychiatry outpatients and inpatients were studied over2 months following Ireland's 2016 general election (n=117). Characteristics of participants who did and did not vote were compared and reasons for voting choices explored. Results Over half of participants (52.1%) voted (national rate 65.1%) although more (83.8%) were registered. Forty-one percent had insufficient information about voting: the most common information deficits related to voting rights (31.6%) and voting in hospital (18.8%). Inpatients (20.0%) were substantially less likely to vote than outpatients (63.2%). Majorities endorsed the importance of people with mental illness voting. The most common reasons for not voting were being in hospital (32.1%) and not being registered (30.4%). Conclusions Politicians should note that a majority of people with mental illness are outpatients and a significant proportion vote. Voting among inpatients has improved since 2011 but more information and support are needed to optimise voting rates in this population.