Exercise your democratic right to vote

Many, of course, need no such urging, as they always vote.

Others are either reluctant to vote, or else have decided not to do so.

Their unwillingness to enter a polling booth is not necessarily a sign of apathy or a lack of civic spirit. Rather, it is a reflection of the widespread disenchantment with our political system and many of the people inhabiting it.

Some non-voters believe, for example, that the system is so flawed that the names and allegiances of the politicians in charge make no difference to the underlying malaise.

Others believe politicians as a breed, perhaps with a few noble exceptions, are concerned primarily with mounting the gravy train and clinging to their seats as tenaciously as barnacles on the hull of a tramp steamer.

The politicians — whatever their party — have only themselves to blame for this perception. The guilty ones are to blame for their misdemeanours and the innocent ones are often to blame for trying to excuse those misdemeanours.

None of this is any justification for not voting, though. If politicians really are as flawed as certain of us perceive them to be, voting en masse is the surely the only measure capable of reminding them that they are supposed to be our servants.

There will be people reading this who gaze down the list of candidates, leaders and pledges and see nothing impressive. However, they can surely identify what they find least unimpressive and vote accordingly — even if they have to do so with a heavy heart.

If we all vote, then little by little, perhaps over the course of two, three or more rounds of polls, we shall have politicians worthy of representing us.