Parties held to help voters sign up for election

A voter registration party in Bradford - complete with glowsticks - saw 40 people register to vote ahead of the deadline

Voter registration "parties" have been held in West Yorkshire to make sure people with disabilities have their voices heard in the general election - as the deadline to register looms.

An event in Bradford, organised by the United Response charity as part of its My Vote, My Voice campaign, saw around 40 people with learning disabilities sign up.

Guests enjoyed food and dancing as they chatted to support workers who helped them to register to vote online.

United Response area manager Nikki Jones said the event aimed to reach out to people who felt "marginalised", adding: "Everyone deserves a voice."

Charlotte Raistrick says she will vote for the first time in the upcoming election

Charlotte Raistrick, who is 32 and is autistic, has never voted before.

She attended Friday's workshop in Allerton.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: "I read the leaflets around the election and didn't understand what it was about.

"Coming today, I've realised how important it is to vote.

"(Some) people who are vulnerable don't understand what an election is. I didn't understand. But this has opened a new window for me. I'm going to vote."

Campaigners say that despite recent changes in the law around improving accessibility of voting, there is still a lot of misunderstanding around the barriers faced by some groups.

Hannah Molloy is an autism support peer mentor with the My Vote, My Voice campaign.

"It's important to have fun about politics and not make politics as scary as it seems," she said.

"Since we have begun this campaign, nearly every political party has released an easy-read manifesto. I like to think our campaign has helped with that.

"Events like this... can bring [politicians and disabled] people together to discuss those barriers to voting and help disabled people to feel included."

Hannah Molloy supports autistic people and is part of the My Vote, My Voice campaign

Nikki Jones, area manager for United Response, said many people with disabilities did not even know they were allowed to vote.

She said workshop events offered a wider lesson about how we "do politics" in the UK.

"A lot of people... do feel marginalised and not listened to, and that makes them think their vote isn't important," she said.

"But actually we are here to say it is. Everyone deserves a voice."

Colleague Louise Richardson added: "I have spoken to people we support before about voting and they have said they didn't want to do it - they felt confused and frightened.

"We thought this was a wonderful opportunity to support people, give them information, make it fun, give them a bit of confidence - and we have managed to do that."

Nikki Jones, area manager for United Response

Howard Davies, 56, signed up to vote at the Bradford party and said he was looking forward to "making a difference".

"I think people should make their own choices in life - and vote for the party they believe in," he said.

People have until 23:59 BST on Tuesday to register to vote in the general election.

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