It came as no surprise to read the investigation into the potential for fraud our electoral system still provides (The Argus, May 2).

Back in 2003 many expressed concerns about Brighton's postal vote pilot, including The Argus and me - see www.jasonkitcat.com.

In spite of repeated concerns expressed by the Electoral Commission, the Committee for Standards in Public Life, the Council of Europe plus a wide range of academics and experts, the Government has continued to pursue its electoral modernisation strategy at all costs.

Rather than boosting participation, as was boasted would happen, this has been an expensive way to open our elections to more fraud and errors than ever before with 42 convictions for electoral fraud from 2000 to 2007.

This was shown again last year when I led the first ever accredited election observer group in England and Scotland. The subsequent report found serious problems, which were echoed in the Electoral Commission's later reports. The Labour Government's approach has only resulted in decreased faith in our electoral system while handing fat cheques to overseas suppliers for shoddy equipment. It's a disgrace that this situation has been allowed to fester for so long.

  • Jason Kitcat, Green councillor for Regency chair, Brighton and Hove Green Party