Campaigners are calling for Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities to be treated as voters and not used as political footballs during elections. These communities face chronic democratic underrepresentation, with many feeling like second-class citizens. The Electoral Commission is supporting a campaign to encourage more individuals from these communities to vote as they are less likely to be registered.
Leeanne Morgan, a member of the Gypsy community, stated that her community experiences barriers to engagement, with tactical jargon and poor representation from political leaders hindering their ability to get involved in the political process. Politicians often do not visit sites while campaigning, Edward William Evans, a member of the Welsh Conservative Party, has criticized Theresa May for refusing to meet with Gypsy and Traveller representatives.
Operation Traveller Vote is a campaign that empowers members of these communities to vote in the upcoming election. The Traveller Movement, the organization behind the campaign, has produced its own manifesto with recommendations on how all political parties can prioritize Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities’ needs in areas such as health and education. Members of this community don’t feel like constituents, but rather political footballs dragged out for politicians’ campaigns, according to the senior policy officer of The Traveller Movement, Grace Preston.
Traveller Movement has been visiting UK cities and knocking on doors at Traveller sites to help people with literacy and digital-literacy issues. The Electoral Commission, which oversees elections, is supportive of the campaign, stating that everyone should be able to participate in elections, but research shows that Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities are less likely to be registered to vote and to own an accepted form of ID.
Plaid Cymru stated that politicians have a duty to engage with all communities in their areas, and Labour and the Conservatives were both asked to comment. By ensuring their voices are heard, Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities can drive positive change and shape the future of their respective nations
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