I COULDN'T help but be dismayed by Cllr Keane's comment (Letters, February 14) about the turnout for the recent mayoral referendum. Having just over 40% of the electorate vote when the average for local government is usually in the 30s doesn't signal to me an electorate very interested in the issue.
It says to me that even when you make it easy for people to vote with a postal ballot the vast majority still choose not to. And it is further proof that MPs' attempts to tempt voters with gimmicks like on -line voting are not going to work.
People don't vote for three main reasons: they don't see that politics has any effect on them, or don't think their vote will make a difference, or they will not vote until 'none of the above' is added to every ballot paper.
Come on, Caroline, you've done some good work up until now, surely you haven't been in local politics long enough for your sights to have dropped lower already?
Dave Goodwin
38 Hillfield
South Zeal