Every vote counts: United Response launches campaign to engage people with learning disabilities in the democratic process

United Response, the charity creating opportunities with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs, is launching a campaign today to make the democratic process more accessible to the thousands of people with learning disabilities in England who are missing out on the opportunity to vote. The campaign will be funded by the Electoral Commission, under its programme to encourage greater participation among disabled people.

In the 2001 General Election only 31% of people with learning disabilities voted compared with a national turnout of 59%. Every Vote Counts is a three year campaign to increase the number of people with learning disabilities that are registered to vote and help them have more of a say in the political decisions that affect their lives.

During the first year of the campaign, United Response will consult with other organisations and people supported by the charity, to create a resource to help people with learning disabilities better understand how politics affects their everyday lives, the reasons for voting and how to engage in the democratic process.

United Response will then disseminate the information, providing training for its staff so they can support people to become more actively involved. It will also offer training to organisations and groups involved in the electoral and democratic process on how to make information about policies and candidates more accessible to people with learning disabilities.

Su Sayer, Chief Executive of United Response said:

"Having the right to vote is meaningless unless you know why you are voting and what you are voting for. At present, a lack of accessible information about the democratic process means that people with learning disabilities are some of the most disenfranchised in society. Through Every Vote Counts we want to work with people and the organisations that support them so they can increase their knowledge and confidence and make an informed choice about voting. We also want to influence those involved in the political process to encourage them to think about the importance of the learning disability constituency and how they can better serve them. As users of local services, people with learning disabilities are affected by political decisions on a daily basis. Therefore, it is vital that they are supported to speak out and have their votes counted."

United Response has over 30 years experience of working with people with learning disabilities throughout England. It is a pioneer of both person-centred support and accessible communication, both of which were recognised by the Electoral Commission in its award to the charity of £123,586.

Stephen Rooney, Communications Director at the Electoral Commission said: "We are very pleased to award this grant to United Response. The charity has proven expertise in developing communication tools and providing individualised support for people with the most complex needs, which makes it ideally placed to deliver the Every Vote Counts project.This is an exciting project and we look forward to working with United Response to open up the democratic process to people with learning disabilities."