The idea of compulsory voting, as propounded by John Parry, pre-supposes a realistic choice to be made.

The choice between Labour and Conservative is a choice between privatisation and privatisation, between running down the NHS and running down the NHS. Many have decided to cut out of the whole fraudulent process by refusing to vote.

In many parts of the county - locally in Crawley and in Hove - the Socialist Alliance gives voters a real choice.

The alliance believes people want an NHS that is generously funded and actually meets their needs, that nobody particularly wants a pension subject to the whim of the market.

We need a secure, properly funded pension linked to earnings. We believe we need a generously-funded, safe, reliable and inexpensive public transport system, paid for from the public purse.

All this could easily be paid for by taxing the very wealthy - those who have been draining the wealth from our communities, pretty well tax free, helped by both major parties for the past 20 years or more.

Those who might not vote are tired of the UK having the worst poverty in Europe, the lowest-funded NHS and the poorest pensioners.

They are tired of being forced into such low-paid jobs that staying alive in a state of utter exhaustion is as much as they can manage.

By all means, make voting compulsory but first make sure it is a meaningful vote and that real choices are on offer.

-Muriel Hirsch, Socialist Alliance prospective parliamentary candidate for Crawley