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Help improve the voting experience in elections for deaf people and people with hearing loss 

Social research
A photograph of a street in the UK with a road sign saying: "POLLING STATION" outside of an old building.
A photograph of a street in the UK. The road sign reads: “POLLING STATION”.

Please note: This research opportunity is now closed.

Working with the Electoral Commission we are exploring ways to improve information for deaf people and people with hearing loss about how to vote in elections. Help us by taking part in some research tasks this winter, whether you’re an experienced voter or new to voting. 

Watch this page in BSL
Watch this page in ISL

Gwelwch y tudalen yma yng Nghymraeg.

BSL users, please note: Our research activity dates have been updated. The focus groups and interviews are now open until the 26th February.

All our research tasks are BSL accessible. If you require Irish Sign Language translation, or a copy of this content in Welsh, contact us.

Reviewing information about elections 

Through online testing, focus groups and interviews, we want to know your thoughts and feedback of how information about voting in elections is shared. We’ll look at videos, webpages and posters (made by the Electoral Commission) that explain how to register to vote and voting processes.   

We want to understand what type of information works well for you and what information would be useful in the future. We are particularly interested in the experiences of sign language users.

Our research tasks 

We are running three types of research tasks which you can get involved in. You are welcome to take part in as many or as few as you like. 

1. Online testing (between 15 January and 16 February)

Through reviewing the Electoral Commission’s materials, we’ll ask you questions about your previous voting experience, how you usually find information about elections, and review how these materials impact your confidence in voting.

2. Focus groups (between 29 January and 26 February)

We’ll explore what information boosts confidence and preparedness for voting.

3. Interviews (between 29 January and 26 February)

Through one-to-one discussions with our researcher, you’ll share how you usually access voter information and what information boosts your confidence when voting in elections.

Who can apply

We’re interested in both the views of experienced voters and those who are new to voting. To take part in our research tasks you must be: 

  • Aged 16 or over in Scotland and Wales OR 18 or over in England and Northern Ireland. 
  • Eligible to vote (you can find out more on the Electoral Commission website). 
  • Deaf or have hearing loss. 
  • Available during the research task time periods, listed above.

We will need to take some more details from you to make sure we have a range of people included in our research. We’ll ask you a couple more questions about yourself and which research tasks you would like to participate in. 

We will be selecting around 60 people to get involved in one or more of the research tasks and invite them to take part via email. If you are selected, you will receive a £25 shopping voucher as a thank you for your time.

Contact us 

If you have any questions, email us at [email protected]. 

Join our research panel

Our research panel is a group of people with lived experience that takes part in our research on a regular basis. Help us deliver the social change we want to see by joining.
Join our research panel

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