This is a press release that was sent to the newspapers and radio

80% of people with learning disabilities supported by United Response are registered to vote.

Only 1 in 6 of these people voted in their last local election.

Only 1 in 8 of these people voted in the last general election.

Some people said that the reason they didn't vote was that the voting system was too complicated.

Some people said that the reason they didn't vote was that there was not enough information available that was easy to understand.

Some people said that MPs and other political people need more learning disability awareness training.

The survey was part of a project called Every Vote Counts!

The project is run by United Response and funded by the Electoral Commission.

The project wants to help people with learning disabilities to be more involved with politics and understand political decisions that affect their lives.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) said in 2005 that all public bodies should promote equality and opportunity for disabled people.

There are 985,000 people with a learning disability in England who have problems with written information.

These people prefer information to be written in an easy to understand way.

The survey wanted to find out how much people with learning disabilities took part in the democratic process.

The survey wanted to find out how to involve more people with learning disabilities in the democratic process.

227 people with learning disabilities took part in the survey. 252 people who support them took part in the survey.

The survey found that fewer people with learning disabilities were taking part in the democratic process. Only 20% voted in the last local election and only 16% voted in the last general election. The Department of Health expected about 31% to vote.

The survey found that lots of support workers wanted the people they support to take part in the democratic process, but that there wasn't enough accessible information to help them explain the differences between candidates and policies in a clear and unbiased way.

The survey found that remote voting makes it easier for some disabled people to vote.

The survey found many support workers found the process too difficult to explain to the people they support, to allow them to make an informed choice.

The survey found that more people might take part if there was more accessible information available.

The survey found that candidates and other people involved in the democratic process need to be more aware of the needs of people with learning disabilities.

Su Sayer said "Political decisions affect people with learning disabilities in the same way as everyone else - sometimes more. Very few people with learning disabilities vote.

"Our survey shows that some good things are happening, but it is still difficult for people with learning disabilities to have their say. They are not being allowed the right to choose.

"The Every Vote Counts! project is trying to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to have their say."

United Response is working with the people it supports and support workers to make a pack which will explain the democratic process in a clear and fair way."

Su sayer said "People with learning disabilities have been excluded from the democratic process for too long. We need to create a society where people are equal.

"We want to give people practical support so that they can be active members of their community and have a say in decisions that affect their lives.

"For example, someone might be interested in the environment and they may want to find out about local recycling services.

"Another example might be that someone is worried about how long they have to wait for a hospital appointment and want to know who they can contact about it.

"The charity will also want to work with people within the political system - MPs, councilors, political parties, returning officers and others.

"This will help them to understand the needs of people with learning disabilities better and give them the tools to make their own information accessible."