Participation in the 2005 general election by adults with intellectual disabilities.
Adults with ID vote far less than the general population—living with another voter is the biggest predictor of whether they cast a ballot.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Heo et al. (2008) looked at adults with intellectual disabilities and the 2005 UK general election.
They checked public voter records to see who registered and who actually voted.
The team also asked support staff and family members why some adults did or did not vote.
What they found
Adults with ID were far less likely to register or vote than other citizens.
The biggest predictor of casting a ballot was simply living with someone else who voted.
Common barriers were not knowing how to register, confusing paperwork, and worry about making mistakes at the polling station.
How this fits with other research
Malone (1999) also used proxy reports for adults with ID and warned that staff or family answers are helpful but not a full substitute for self-report.
Krahn et al. (2023) asked adults with IDD what helps them take part in civic life. Plain language, visuals, and neutral support topped their list—barriers H et al. saw in 2005 still echo today.
Morris et al. (2021) push for clear assent procedures so people with IDD can ethically join research; H et al. show the same respectful inclusion is missing at the ballot box.
Why it matters
You can boost civic participation by teaching registration steps, giving easy-read guides, and arranging a practice walk to the polling place. Pair new voters with experienced voters so no one goes alone. These small moves can turn one under-represented adult into a lifelong voter.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: International and UK legislation confirms and supports the right of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) to vote. It is widely accepted, although not previously empirically confirmed, that citizens with ID are under-represented at the polls. METHOD: To document the extent of their under-representation at the polls, the names and addresses of adults using services for people with ID in one county in the UK, were compared with the marked electoral register following the 2005 general election. Adults using services for people with ID were identified either as un-registered, as registered to vote but not having voted, or as having voted. RESULTS: Adults with ID living in the county at the time of 2005 general election were substantially under-represented at the polls. Compared with the general population, proportionally fewer of them were registered to vote, and proportionally fewer of them voted. Compared with adults living in private homes, those in supported accommodation were more likely to be registered to vote, but less likely to use their vote. The most significant predictor of participation was living in a household with at least one other active voter. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the close proximity of an active voter is likely to be different for adults in supported accommodation compared with those living in private households. Further research is required to understand what features of these two very different types of residences are affecting voting opportunities.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2008 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.00991.x