Old name, new purpose: why we’ve gone back to RNID

  1. Home
  2. Get involved
  3. Campaign with us
  4. How to take part in the general election if you’re deaf or have hearing loss

How to take part in the general election if you’re deaf or have hearing loss

Watch this page in BSL

The general election is your opportunity to get your voice heard and help shape the experiences of your community and country.

We’ve been working with the Electoral Commission to make the voting process as inclusive and accessible as possible. Below you can find information and advice on how to vote this July.

A woman casting her vote in a voting booth, exercising her democratic right and participating in the electoral process.

How to vote: advice in BSL

Watch RNID’s Advocacy Manager Michael Quinlan and the Electoral Commission discuss how to register to vote, voter ID and ways of voting.
Watch advice in BSL

How to vote if you’re deaf or have hearing loss

Your vote matters. To vote in the general election you need to be registered. Here’s what you need to do before 4 July:

Are you registered to vote?

The deadline to register was Tuesday 18 June, and has now passed.

Find out if you are already registered, and how to update your details if your address changes, on the Electoral Commission website.

Alternative methods of voting

The deadlines for applying to vote in the upcoming general election by proxy or post have now passed.

You can choose to vote in person, by post or by proxy (when someone votes in your place) if you aren’t available to vote in person.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss, you may prefer to vote by post or proxy if you feel nervous about voting in person.

Here were the deadlines for applying:

  • By post – apply by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June
  • By proxy – apply by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June

You will need to prove your identity when applying or reapplying for a postal vote every three years.

You can find out more information about the ways to vote on the electoral commission web

Have you got your Voter ID?

You will need Voter ID to vote in the 2024 general election.

The deadline for applying for free voter ID document in England, Scotland and Wales is Wednesday 26 June.

Find out about what forms of ID you can use to vote, and how to apply for voter ID on the Electoral Commission website.

Watch this advice in BSL

For more details on the information above, watch the Electoral Commission’s BSL video series on registering to vote.


Share your communication needs

Our ‘It does matter’ report found that the public don’t always know how to communicate with deaf people and people with hearing loss.

Engaging with voters on the doorstep is a big part of campaigning during a general election and we want to make sure no one is excluded.

We’re helping parliamentary candidates communicate more inclusively when canvassing for the election. Our materials will help you to advocate for your communication needs.

An illustration of a man and woman standing at a podium, delivering a speech to an audience with the woman translating into BSL.

Demand an accessible election

Email the two leading candidates for becoming Prime Minister, telling them to commit to being accessible this general election.
Email the leading candidates

Share the communities’ needs with your local candidates

There is no better time to talk about society’s attitudes towards people who are deaf and have hearing loss than during a national debate. Your candidates want to know what you care about.

We’ll be leading this conversation with the future Government and we hope you’ll support us. In our ‘Loud and Clear’ charity manifesto we outline our four key demands.

Watch the manifesto summary in BSL

Join us in these demands

Pledge your support

Email your candidate or organise a meeting to tell them you support our demands – and ask them to show their support, too.

Attending a community event or hustings

These events are an opportunity to raise awareness of our demands. Ask your candidates how they will address everyone’s needs in their community by making society more inclusive.

Sharing your story

Share your lived experiences with candidates to provide valuable insights and help influence their decision making.

Join our network

Join our Campaigns Network

Keep up to date with our latest campaigns and find out how you can get involved in making change happen.
Join our Campaigns Network

Page last updated: 28 June 2024

Back to top