The French presidential elections are a frightening example of the damage that can be done by not voting.

Suddenly, huge numbers of French people realised not voting actually helped a deeply reactionary force.

Luckily, they were able to do something about it.

I hope we do not have to go to such lengths in order to stimulate a much greater interest in politics here.

The slightly improved participation in the recent local elections seems to indicate that alternatives to traditional polling stations do make a difference and one hopes these experiments will continue.

One of the real problems in the UK is the astonishingly cynical and negative attitude to politics and politicians from the irresponsible media and others who love to portray all politicians as terrible people.

In my experience, they are not - they are ordinary people who have the courage to stand up and be counted.

Non-participants have only themselves to blame if they don't like what they get.

-Geoff Howitt, High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea