DES MOINES, Iowa — A Grinnell mother said Sunday that her son’s vote shouldn’t be counted and she intends to challenge his vote.
Brenda Lyddon said her son, Christopher Willis, 26, is developmentally delayed. He lives at the CIRSI group home in Grinnell, an assisted living home for people with developmental disabilities.
Lyddon said he son should never have voted because he has the mind of a 7-year-old.
“He cannot read. He can barely write and so he could never even read a ballot. He couldn’t tell you who’s on there. He couldn’t tell you who’s running — vice president, local, congressional, nothing,” said Lyddon.
Willis told KCCI’s Ryan Luby that he voted for Sen. Barack Obama. When Luby asked who was running for president this year, Willis answered “Barack Obama and John McCain.”
When asked which parties the candidates represented, Willis said “John McCain is with Democrat party.” He couldn’t identify which party Obama represented.
“I have never registered him because I don’t feel he can make his own decision and he can’t and he’s easily influenced,” said Lyddon.