Boosting the poll turnout

Madam, - At present, the UK Electoral Commission is seeking to make the democratic system more accessible to their electorate…

Madam, - At present, the UK Electoral Commission is seeking to make the democratic system more accessible to their electorate. They are viewing methods of voting including phone texting, email and postal voting.

They are perplexed, however, at the continuing majority of voters who are reluctant to use any means of casting their ballot at election times.

Perhaps they, and we, are missing the point.

The reason that we see little change or shape-up in our political representation is that most eligible voters do not vote - because they do not see that they are being offered a viable option when they come to choose.

READ MORE

I would propose that to be truly democratic, voters should be offered an additional option to the list of candidates on a ballot paper. That option should be "None of the Above".

If more than 35 per cent of the electorate vote "None of the Above", then the political parties would have six to nine months to select and present new candidates (for those who did not reach a certain quota) for a follow-up election.

Far from being an expensive operation, the pressures would be on the political parties to come up with viable candidates quickly, ensuring that more suitable people offer themselves for election. - Yours etc.,

BRIAN C. O CEALLAIGH, The Hedgerows, Foxrock, Dublin 18.