Increasing the participation of people with learning disabilities in UK elections.

Why you should read this article: • To acknowledge the importance of the participation of people with learning disabilities in elections • To increase your understanding of the legal rights of people with learning disabilities to vote • To enhance your knowledge of what prevents and enables a person with a learning disability to vote. It is crucial that people with learning disabilities vote so that they are represented in the country's institutions. In the UK, approximately 2% of the adult population has a learning disability, yet far fewer people with learning disabilities vote compared with the general population. This article describes a project undertaken at one NHS mental health trust in England to explore knowledge and attitudes in relation to people with learning disabilities' participation in elections and to increase participation in the 2024 UK general election. Three groups – adults with learning disabilities, carers of adults with learning disabilities and healthcare professionals working with adults with learning disabilities – were asked to complete a questionnaire. Many participating adults with learning disabilities were not aware that they had the right to vote. Carers and healthcare professionals had varying levels of knowledge and confidence with respect to supporting adults with learning disabilities to vote. These results highlight the urgent need for targeted education, accessible information and practical support to enhance people with learning disabilities' participation in elections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]