A practice election was held for people with Learning Disabilities at the Civic offices on Thursday, 7 March, to help ensure voting is accessible for all upcoming elections.

At a recent Learning Disabilities Partnership Board meeting made up of people across Bexley with Learning Disabilities, new rules around photo ID were discussed. Our Election Team were invited to run through the voting process and to answer any questions the Board had.

To help familiarise themselves with the voting process the Board requested a run-through of the election procedures and looked at these from the perspective of someone with a Learning Disability.

The aim was to ensure there were no barriers that would prevent participation in an election. The Learning Disability Partnership Board helped coproduce easy-read invites with our Adult Social Care and Election Teams. The invites were sent out to all our partners welcoming them to take part.

The event was well attended by residents who came along with their photo ID and went through the process of what happens on Election Day.

Attendees were given the option to vote for their favourite food. 52 people voted at the practice election with the winning vote going to Roast Dinners with Fish and Chips following closely in second place.

For residents that did not have any photo ID the Elections Team were on hand to take photos and guide them through the process of obtaining a voter ID certificate ensuring that everyone was prepared for any future elections.

The atmosphere was one of inclusion, with everyone encouraged to participate fully. There was a real buzz in the air as residents from different community groups were given the opportunity to network.

The event was a great success and helped residents understand their rights, enabling them to feel empowered and able to vote in any upcoming elections.

If you would like to find out more about the new rules around Voter ID, you can visit the Electoral Commission website.