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

With a general election soon, United Response, has made a set of guides called Making Democracy Accessible.

The guides are to help politicians, and other people in politics communicate better with the people with learning disabilities, who are not voting.

People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote as everyone else.

There are 1 million adults with learning disabilities in England. But many of them are not voting.

United Response asked some questions about voting to people with learning disabilities.

They found out that 80% of people are registered to vote. But only 16% of those people voted in the General Election. in 2005.

They found out that there is not enough easy information and that the system is too complicated.

The Making Democracy Accessible guides are funded by the Electoral Commission. They include:

A 5-point guide to show politicians some things they can do

Information on how to include people with learning disabilities

Information on the duties and responsibilities of politicians to make information for to disabled people

Details of organisations that can help to make information easier to understand.

Su Sayer from United Response said: "People with learning disabilities are affected by decisions just like everyone else. "

"But, information about politics is often confusing and full of jargon. This makes it difficult for people to speak up about issues."

"This means many people who would like to vote are excluded from a system, which is meant to represent them."

"We have made these guides to ask politicians to try to make sure people with learning disabilities have their voices heard."

Lizzie Emeh, who has learning disabilities and lives in London, said:

"Even people without disabilities find it hard to understand politics. They just speak jargon and don’t get to the point… Politicians don’t involve us."

"If people with disabilities all vote, we will be heard. The more we get our voices heard, the more people will respect us."

To find out more about Making Democracy Accessible and to order a copy of the resource, go to www.unitedresponse.org.uk/mda

Making Democracy Accessible is part of Every Vote Counts - a three year project funded by the Electoral Commission. To find out more go to www.everyvotecounts.org.uk