The country goes to the polls today! 🗳️

But how easy it is for disabled people to access information about elections & who to vote for?

I've done a rundown of the Mayoral Candidates for London as an example below! #LondonMayor2021
So for starters, you can find a full list of the Mayoral Candidates with a short clear text statement on this website.

https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/candidates/mayoral-candidates
Conservative candidate @ShaunBaileyUK

The website is very 'fancy' but pretty inaccessible to a visually impaired voter like me. Videos on the website appear to have subtitles at least.

I can find no clear text or easy read version of the full manifesto. https://www.shaunbailey.uk/ 
Labour candidate @SadiqKhan

The website has a manifesto page, it's difficult to find but you can google it.

There are downloadable large print / clear text versions.

You can also request other 'accessible formats' not clear what these are? https://sadiq.london/sadiqs-manifesto-for-london/
Lib Dem Candidate @LuisaPorritt

I can only find one option to download a PDF of the manifesto. It's very 'designed' & inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.

Social media videos are subtitled but no use of alt text on images. https://www.luisa4london.co.uk/manifesto 
Green Candidate @sianberry

PDF, Audio Format & BSL manifesto available. It would be great to have a clear text or easy read too.

Subtitles on social media videos but no alt text on images. https://www.sianberry.london/manifesto-2021/ 
UKIP candidate Peter Gammons @Gammons4London

No manifesto to download or read, a video with no subtitles, & an inaccessible webpage for me as a visually impaired voter.

No use of alt text on images, but does film tv videos with subtitles on. https://www.ukip.org/gammonsforlondon_v0
Women's Equality Party Candidate @ManduReid

Website has subtitled videos & a PDF to download. No other accessible formats.

Social media videos have subtitles & no alt text on images. https://www.womensequality.org.uk/gla_2021_election
Renew Candidate @Kam4London

Website so inaccessible I couldn't even find a manifesto. A video with no subtitles.

Social media videos have no subtitles & no alt text on images https://www.kam4london.co.uk/the_new_economy 
Burning Pink Party Candidate @Valerie4London

Website very inaccessible, however there is a manifesto you can download. It's a simple text pdf.

On social media no subtitles on videos & no alt text on images.
https://burningpink.earth/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/valerie-brown-manifesto.pdf
Let London Live Candidate Piers Corbyn @LetLondonLive1

The website has a 14 point manifesto in plain but very long text. Videos have no subtitles.

Social media no alt text on images.
https://www.corbyn4london.com/14-point-statement-on-the-year-of-coronavirus-madness/
Independent Candidate @CountBinface

Website has a clear text 21 point election plan. Video has subtitles.

Social media videos with subtitles but no image alt text. https://www.countbinface.com/london-2021-manifesto
Independent Candidate @max_fosh

No website that I could find. Youtube campaign video has auto-generated captions.

Social media videos have no captions & no alt text on images.
The Reclaim Party Candidate @LozzaFox

Website layout inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto available to download, with clear layout but small font. No other formats.

Social media videos do have some subtitles but no image alt text.
https://laurencefoxforlondon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LFManifesto_FN.pdf
Rejoin EU Candidate @RejoinP

Website has a captioned video & a clear list of points. PDF manifesto is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter.

Social media good use of captions on videos, but no alt text on images. https://rejoin.london/mayor/ 
Heritage Party Candidate @davidkurten

Website has a very long inaccessible page of small font listing policies. No other formats available.

Social media no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images. https://www.davidkurten.net/policies 
Independent Candidate @MsFarahLondon

I cannot currently access the website... but it appears to have a manifesto page.

Social media inconsistent use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://votefarah.london/manifesto/ 
London Real Party Candidate @brianrose4mayor

Website is inaccessible to me as a visually impaired voter, manifesto can be downloaded & has a clear enough layout.

Social media has no use of captions on videos & no alt text on images.
https://brianformayor.london/brian-rose-mayor-manifesto-2021.pdf
There are 14 million disabled people living in the UK.

2 million are Blind or Visually Impaired.

11 million are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

1.5 million have a learning disability.

Many of these people are voters. Voters being excluded through inaccessible information online.
If you are a political candidate running in an election & you have the budget for a flashy website. Make it accessible.

If you're using social media learn how to add image descriptions & add captions to your videos.

Inaccessible information tells disabled voters you don't care.
If you found this thread useful or informative, please consider supporting my disability activism by buying me coffee.

Any support appreciated (the thread did take an hour!) https://ko-fi.com/blondehistorian 
Finally, if you are any of the above political candidates or a business looking to learn how to make your social media more inclusive, hire me! I offer training & consultancy.

https://amykavanagh.co.uk/ 
You can follow @BlondeHistorian.
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