Whatever their views, women should vote

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/08/whatever-their-views-women-should-vote

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So the reason so many women don’t vote is because there are too many men in parliament (The fight for women’s rights goes on, Letters, 7 March)? Does it not occur to these non-voting women that if all women voted, and it became known that we generally favour female candidates, then party leaders would see to it that more women were available for us to vote for? Women who don’t vote are telling our suffragette foremothers that they needn’t have bothered. They are saying to governments: “Do what you like, I don’t care.” And they are acquiescing in the approach of those politicians and commentators who prefer to describe elections in abstract, hypothetical or metaphorical terms (“bloodbath”, “landslide”, “race”, “knife-edge”,” swing”, “redrawing the political map”, “who will go into coalition with whom in the event of a hung parliament?” etc), rather than use the word “voter” and give us due respect and coverage as active participants in the political process. 

So get out there and vote on 7 May, sisters and brothers. In the meantime, let all your candidates know that you will definitely be voting. You don’t have to tell them who for. Keep them on their toes. When you get to the polling booth, if you don’t like any of the candidates, write a message to that effect. Voting papers with unorthodox markings are scrutinised by candidates and election officials before being dismissed as spoilt. The only really spoilt ballot is the one that isn’t used.Zoe FairbairnsLondon

• As far as the TV election debates are concerned (Report, 7 March), David Cameron is not the UK prime minister but leader of one political party seeking power, just like Miliband and Clegg. Number10 has no special authority here and it’s not for one party to dictate what shall happen. If the parties can’t agree, then it’s no wonder the broadcasters step in to make a decision. For 2020 an independent election commission will be required. Robin CleggSwindon, Wiltshire