Europe and the ballot box

Sir, – Janneke van Veen (August 23rd) states that 500 million people voted in the European Parliament elections in 2014. That is incorrect. The total population of the EU is approximately 500 million. Of those approximately 390 million are registered to vote. Data available from the European Parliament shows that 42.5 per cent of registered voters actually did so in 2014. This leaves a total turnout of approximately 166 million. In every European Parliament election since its foundation the percentage of voter turnout has declined. – Yours, etc,

GILES FOX,

Annville Drive,

Kilmacud,

Co Dublin.