Voting in Elections
This year Mencap has joined the My
Vote
People vote in an
election
An election is when people choose who should be in charge of something. This could be in charge of a group, an area, or the country. People choose by voting. The person with the most votes wins.
. In elections for
councillors
Councillors are the people who work for the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They make important decisions about the area where you live.
or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
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
People vote in an
election
An election is when people choose who should be in charge of something. This could be in charge of a group, an area, or the country. People choose by voting. The person with the most votes wins.
. In elections for
councillors
Councillors are the people who work for the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They make important decisions about the area where you live.
or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
.
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.
