Dimensions responds to Government report on accessible elections

Dimensions welcomes today’s report on accessible elections. The government has set out actions to be taken forward so that people with learning disabilities and autism are better able to participate in elections.

Dimensions has promoted greater awareness of voting rights through the Love Your Vote campaign, including our Voting Passport, accessible hustings and support to get people registered to vote.

In our response to the government’s call for evidence we highlighted the need for political parties to make their literature and processes more accessible to people with learning disabilities and autism. We also stressed the importance of accessible information being used when people register to vote and when it comes to voting in the polling station itself and the need for training around reasonable adjustments for polling station officers. Encouragingly today’s report recommends action in all of these key areas.

Mark Brookes, Campaign Adviser at Dimensions, said: “It’s another great step for people with learning disabilities and/or autism – things have come a long way to make things easier and explain to people how to vote. Voting is important because people have a voice and can make a statement. It gives people with a learning disability a choice.”