Mr Sam Younger Dear Mr Younger I am writing to ask you to carry out trials for a "none of the above" box on ballot papers to gather further statistical information on this issue. The recent turnout at the local elections was a disappointing 37%. In support of this request please could you look again at your own research which showed that a simple amendment to the ballot paper to allow people to express an abstention if they did not feel able to endorse any of the listed candidates in their particular area, could increase turnout among non-voters by 33%. The Electoral Commissions own Mori survey in 2001 found that 'being able to vote on the ballot paper for "none of the above candidates" would have made them more likely to vote'. Once at the polling station some of these previous non-voters might choose to vote for a listed candidate after all, but even if not surely it would be wise for our democratic system to be able to record their disillusionment in some way and separate apathy from antipathy. Our democratic system should find a way of including people who feel excluded or marginalised and a "none of the above" box would be an effective way in representing these people's feelings in a statistical way. Including a "none of the above" box on ballot papers would seem to be a low cost way of increasing turnout compared with the other approaches you are considering. I look forward to your reply Yours sincerely |