With a general election just around the corner, and turnout in 2005 among the lowest of all time, the national learning disability charity, United Response, is calling on politicians to do more to engage learning disabled voters.

Research carried out by United Response among the people it supports, as part of its wider Every Vote Counts campaign, shows that while 80% are registered to vote, only 16% voted in the 2005 General Election, compared with a national turnout of 61%.

People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote as everyone else, yet at present many of the one million adults with learning disabilities in England are missing out on the opportunity to have their say.

The research shows that a lack of easy to understand information about candidates and policies, along with the complexity of the democratic system, are key reasons for people with learning disabilities not using their vote.

Therefore United Response is launching a new set of guides – Making Democracy Accessible – to encourage politicians, party workers and public officials to communicate more effectively with the thousands of people with learning disabilities, who are currently not using their vote.

Funded by the Electoral Commission, the Making Democracy Accessible guides include:

A five point guide on how to make public and political information - including pamphlets, manifestos and websites - more accessible.

Information on the duties and responsibilities of political stakeholders to make information available to disabled people.

Information on the importance of engaging with people with learning disabilities.
Details of organisations that can help to make information more accessible.

Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response said: “Information about the democratic process is often presented in a way which is confusing and full of jargon, leaving many people with learning disabilities unable to access a system which is meant to be there to represent them.

“By launching the Making Democracy Accessible guides we are presenting those working in the political and public arenas with the tools they need to change this.

“People with learning disabilities have the right to vote and register their opinion in the same way as everyone else. We must all work together to ensure that they are no longer excluded.”

Lizzie Emeh, who has learning disabilities and lives in London, said: “Even people without disabilities find it hard to understand politics. They just speak jargon and don’t get to the point…Politicians don’t involve us. If people with disabilities all vote we will be heard. The more we get our voices heard, the more people will respect us.”

To find out more about Making Democracy Accessible and what you can do to support the Every Vote Counts campaign, go to: www.unitedresponse.org.uk/mda