MSP Kane backs Enable theVote plan

Renfrewshire MSP Paul O’Kane has given his support to the Enable the Vote Campaign, calling it “vitally important”for people with learning disabilities.

Enable the Vote! aims to ensure people with learning disabilities have the information and confidence they need to vote in the UK General Election.

Working with the Electoral Commission, the learning disability charity Enable has developed a new Easy Read guide for people with learning disabilities with the all the key information they need so that they can vote. The guide contains accessible information on how to register to vote and what support voters can expect at the polling place. It also provides information on the new voter ID requirement, including which types of photo ID will be accepted, and how to apply for free voter ID. Mr O’Kane, who previously worked for ENABLE Scotland, hosted a drop-in information session at

Holyrood in a bid to share the campaign with his colleagues. He said:“Enable the Vote! is a timely and vitally important development for people with learning disabilities. “It was my pleasure to sponsor the campaign’s photocall and drop-in session – I wanted as many of my parliament colleagues as possible to engage with it. Enable Scotland and the Electoral Commission quite simply want to ensure people who have a learning disability are informed about voting and, crucially, use their right to vote in elections.”

Only around 30 per cent of people with a learning disability vote in elections, compared to the 67.3 per cent of the general population who voted in the 2019 UK General Election.

Despite the current low level of participation, research indicates 70 per cent of people with a learning disability want to vote, and when provided with accessible information and advice on the voting process, are far more likely to use their vote.