THE arguments of Paul Snowden trying to justify not voting in the recent election do not ring true (Letters, May 13).

We need someone to run the city and even if only one per cent of those eligible voted, we would still have councillors and a council and their decisions will affect both those who voted and those who did not bother.

Generally I admire those people who will give effort and time to act as councillors. They never seem to get any thanks or praise for something well done, but only criticism, and then not always deserved.

Some people will stand for election for the power it will give to themselves, or their cause. The only way to prevent them being elected is to vote for someone else. After considering all this if there is still nobody that Paul Snowden can vote for then he should stand for election himself, as an independent if necessary.

Harry H Punter,

Corncroft,

Strensall, York.

...I UNDERSTAND how K S Chapman feels (Letters, May 10). I used to say exactly the same thing about the importance of voting. That was until the war in Iraq.

Of course myself and the anti-war protesters did not want Saddam in power as a dictator. But neither did we want a bloody war to see him removed.

I've been a Labour supporter all my life, but did not go to vote like many others. Do you think Tony Blair will get the point?

G Williams,

Heworth, York.

Updated: 10:26 Monday, May 19, 2003