Parties put forward manifestoes and people voted either in favour or against. The majority party won the right to put their policies into action

But what if no one - or very few - bother to vote? What is there to say then?

The reluctance to vote appears to affect local government elections the hardest, so what, if anything, should they do to address the problem?

Our right to vote and our ability to do so in comfortable circumstances has been bought at a tremendous cost in both lives and painful struggles of our forefathers - no less so than in two world wars when our whole way of life was threatened.

So the obligation is there surely.

Unfortunately more and more people have become disaffected by the whole business of politics and the seeming failure of those in public office to listen to what the people are saying.

The attempt by local government authorities to issue goodies in return for voting seems to some, although admirable in purpose, to be trite and wholly offensive.

The price of a vote worth a £1,000 prize in a draw? Tell that to the soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

There's no doubt that people will be galvanised into action on issues which affect them closely - witness the Acrid protest movement.

It is by responding to such challenges forthrightly and openly that confidence may be restored to local government and people encouraged to think that their vote at elections is really worthwhile.