Voting in Elections
This year Mencap has joined the My Vote My Voice, which brings together different charities to campaign A campaign is when people work together to try to change something. to remove voting barriers and raise awareness about people with learning disabilities and autistic people's right to vote.
The campaign, funded by the UK Democracy A democracy is where everyone can have their say and be listened to. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all a democracy. Fund, a Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust initiative, is especially important this year as the new requirement for voter ID has been introduced
Around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. , and there are over 700,000 autistic people. But research Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. in 2019 found that less than two-thirds of the general public know that they have an equal right to vote. This needs to change.
We want everyone with a learning disability and autism Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different. to know they have the right to vote. And make sure they have the right information about how to vote in the next general election.
Click on the My Vote My Voice website to find guides on:
Further information
- What is voting?
Beth yw pleidleisio (Welsh version of What is voting?) - Voting for a mayor
If you would like more information or have any questions please email campaigns@mencap.org.uk or phone 0207 696 6009.
How and where to vote
In many places people will be voting in a number of different elections. You can find out which elections are taking place in your area by putting your postcode in the Electoral Commission’s website here.