Having received the postal ballot form for the local elections, I notice the paper is numbered as is the envelope.

What this means is the ballot is not secret, anyone who has access to the ballot papers can see who I have voted for.

I always thought that this was secret. Not that the old system was secret either, as the number of the ballot paper was written against your name on the register.

While I appreciate there is very little chance of someone pressuring me with strongarm tactics, it does not get away from the fact someone could if he wished.

What has happened to the secret vote?

Perhaps someone from the council or an interested party could answer this point and assure me that this information is not used by political parties to target people who they would like to vote for them?

-John Plowman, Brighton