Madam, - I wonder at the concern for the alleged right to spoil a vote.
I have acted as a deputy returning officer in a number of general election counts and one of the duties is to rule on spoiled votes. In general these would be no more than one per cent of the total poll. Most are spoiled by accident. The most common reason is failure to indicate a preference by inserting for example two "number one preferences". This would not be possible under the electronic system.
Deliberate spoiling occurs in only 2 or 3 per cent of all spoiled votes. This spoiling is usually by way of suggestion to individual candidates or parties or indeed the Queen of England that they attempt an act of self abuse which would require a degree of acrobatic dexterity or imagination which is clearly beyond their competence.
By way of light relief, there is always a preference for Dustin. - Yours, etc.,
BARRY DOYLE,
Percy Place, Dublin 4.