The My Vote My Voice campaign team. Photographed by Emile Holba, 23 February 2023.
My Vote My Voice is on a mission to make voting accessible to everyone.
The Campaign
It is estimated that around 1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability, and an additional 700,000 are autistic. Polling conducted by United Response showed that 22% of the general public don’t know that people with a learning disability have an equal right to vote. That’s where the My Vote My Voice campaign began.
Launched in Parliament in 2023, the campaign brought lived experience experts face-to-face with MPs to spotlight voting barriers. Its mission? To empower as many people with learning disabilities and autistic people as possible to register and vote in the general election.
Backed by self-advocacy groups, councils, and MP Champions, the campaign spread nationwide sharing accessible information and raising awareness of voting rights.
Through bold media outreach and celebrity support, My Vote My Voice amplified underrepresented voices and challenged the lack of inclusion in democracy.
Being shortlisted for SMK Campaigner Award for Amplifying Voices is recognition of the heart of our mission—ensuring that people with learning disabilities and autistic people are not only heard, but truly seen in our democracy. It celebrates the dedication of our coalition, who have made this campaign possible and is a reminder that when we centre lived experience and push for accessible, inclusive change, we don’t just raise awareness—we shift power.”
Chair of the Campaign Steering Group
The Change
The My Vote My Voice campaign created real, measurable change in empowering people with learning disabilities and autistic people to participate in democracy. By June 18, it had driven 4,512 new voter registrations thanks to a nationwide push that included voter registration parties, workshops, and a pin badge incentive campaign.
The coalition grew to 190 member organisations, reaching over 200,000 people, and secured support from 23 MPs and 30 councils, with many more sharing campaign resources. Trafford Council even passed a motion to ensure accessible voting information for residents with learning disabilities.
The campaign also tackled public attitudes. Media efforts, generated 40 pieces of coverage, including pieces on Channel 4, BBC and ITV news generating millions of impressions. Chris Packham’s Instagram Reel alone reached over 213,000 people, driving traffic to voter registration pages.
Workshops and train-the-trainer sessions empowered people with lived experience to lead local education efforts. The campaign also successfully pushed for Easy Read manifestos from three political parties—ensuring accessible information was available at the same time as for the general public.
In short, My Vote My Voice didn’t just raise awareness—it mobilised action, shifted attitudes, and made democracy more inclusive.
The Future
The future of My Vote My Voice is focused on deepening impact and driving systemic change. In the 2025 local elections, the campaign achieved strong coalition engagement, with 20 new organisations signing the MVMV Charter and widespread use of new toolkits.
People with learning disabilities and autistic people face persistent barriers, like inaccessible communications and unclear voter ID rules, highlighting the need to continue to ensure people have accessible information so that they can participate in democracy. Looking ahead, My Vote My Voice will continue to push for Easy Read manifestos, better voter education and will co-create engaging, accessible content with our lived experience spokespeople.
The goal remains clear: a democracy where everyone’s voice is heard and counted.
