Mark Brookes: Voter ID plans could amplify barriers for adults with learning disabilities

The government should listen to the lived experiences of people with learning disabilities, writes the advocacy lead at Dimensions, a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, challenging behaviour and complex needs.

Dr Mark Brookes MBE, advocacy lead at Dimensions

Voting is an exciting opportunity for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to make their voices heard. It is important that the voting process is made as accessible as possible, and there has been lots of great recent progress to achieve this aim in recent years. However, measures to introduce voter ID as part of the Elections Bill could have worrying implications for voter participation.

A central issue with these plans is that they overlook the lived experience of people with learning disabilities like myself, ignore existing barriers and risk introducing new hurdles to the process of voter registration for the 1.3 million adults in the UK with a learning disability.

Millions lack ID - and applying for it can be complicated

The Elections Bill lists several forms of ID that will be accepted at polling stations. However, even before we consider the impact on people with learning disabilities and/or autism, it is already estimated that approximately 3.5 million adults hold none of these forms of identification – that’s 7.5% of the electorate [*the Cabinet Office disputes this figure - see note at the end of this article]. For people with a learning disability, this becomes even more acute. At Dimensions alone, a small sample of the people supported has indicated that between 20%-50% may currently have no suitable form of ID to meet the requirements proposed in the Elections Bill.

Applying for any one of these forms of identification can also be complicated. Questions can be detailed and often need further explanation, meaning that applications can take a long time to fill in without easy-read alternatives.

This can be very off-putting for people with learning disabilities and could be a particular problem for anyone with a learning disability and/or autism who lives without support, as they might not have immediate access to support when completing an application. It is also likely that some people with learning disabilities may be digitally excluded, so may not even have easy access to relevant application forms in the first place.

The introduction of voter ID could really slow down – if not reverse – important steps forward towards empowering people with a learning disability to take part in voting

One question I would like to know the answer to is whether different forms of ID could be accepted to those listed in the Elections Bill – for example, a freedom pass or council tax letter. These are likely to be more widely available to people with a learning disability, and they offer as much proof of identity as existing measures for voter registration, where people are asked to provide a name and address.

During the local elections this year I worked as an observer at my polling station where I saw first-hand an effective system of identification already in place. However, the introduction of voter ID could really slow down – if not reverse – important steps forward towards empowering people with a learning disability to take part in voting.

Added stresses on election day

Registering to vote is still one of the hardest things about voting for people with learning disabilities. Indeed, recent research from Dimensions found that 27% of people aren’t even aware that all people with a learning disability have the legal right to vote. Being legally required to take ID to the polling station would be an additional challenge to an already difficult process, particularly for people who live without support, as I do.

Firstly, it would be stressful to work out which forms of ID are suitable. Although the list of accepted identifications is quite long, this can still be hard to navigate for people who do not have anyone available to support them on election days. Secondly, even if a person already has the correct form of ID, it can be quite frantic having to find it on the day, particularly if you live alone, and worrying to have to take it with you.

Put simply: measures to introduce voter ID will add extra stress to a day which should only feel empowering

These are needless additional stresses to a day that can already be difficult for some people with a learning disability and/or autism. In fact, in Dimensions’ research, 80% of respondents reported that polling stations were difficult to use for people with a learning disability.

In contrast, organisations like Dimensions have been working hard to help people with learning disabilities exercise their fundamental right to vote through initiatives like the Voting Passport - a free document that clearly shows the rights of voters with learning disabilities and helps people to communicate the reasonable adjustments they need, which everyone is entitled to. Resources like this can be so helpful in encouraging people to vote, and it is sad to think that the Elections Bill might slow recent progress.

Listen to our lived experience

Put simply: measures to introduce voter ID will add extra stress to a day which should only feel empowering. I know that having to find the right kind of ID and take it to the polling station could cause real worry for people with learning disabilities. I am especially concerned that anyone with a learning disability who lives without support could ultimately be put off from making the journey to vote.

Dimensions’ research showed that 82% of people with learning disabilities feel the Government does not listen to their views as much as they listen to those of others. Voting is a crucial way for people with learning disabilities to participate in the progress of society, but introducing legal requirements for voter ID could pose real obstacles for us. It is vital that the UK government listens to our experience and makes adjustments to ensure our voices can be heard.

Dr Mark Brookes, advocacy lead, Dimensions

*Note: The Cabinet Office disputed this figure, which came from Electoral Commission research carried out in 2015 using data from sources including the Office for National Statistics, DVLA, Home Office and Transport for London, and was cited by the House of Commons Library. The Cabinet Office pointed to the results of a survey it commissioned from IFF Research, published in March 2021, which found that 98% of people "held some form of photo ID (including ID that had expired or where the photo was no longer recognisable)" and 96% "held a form of photo ID with a photo that respondents thought was recognisable (including ID that had expired)". The Cabinet Office said the Electoral Commission report "does not cover the breadth of documents, or expired documents, that the government’s voter identification policy will accept".

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