On 4th May 2006 local elections are to be held for 176 local authorities across England (including the 32 London Boroughs) each of which is divided into several wards.

Local elections have a notoriously low vote turnout, sometimes as low as 26%. Probably the majority of people can’t be motivated to vote in such elections, when they can’t really see that the outcome would make a huge difference them whichever of the three major parties wins.

But what if the racist British National Party (BNP), which still talks about repatriating non-whites to their country of origin, won a local election in your area by a matter of a couple of hundred (or even fewer) votes? Then you would probably kick yourself for not voting.

Well this is precisely what has happened in many wards over the past few years. The BNP managed to mobilise a small determined pack of voters whereas the majority of eligible voters (most of who would never want the BNP to win) couldn’t be bothered to get out there and vote.

Currently the BNP holds 23 seats. This is not a huge amount – but they have been gaining ground. And one of their most potent weapons is apathy of the average person who can’t be bothered to vote.

In the current elections, the BNP have fielded candidates for 375 seats. Even though the majority of these are mere paper candidates, they are considered to pose a serious threat in about 75 wards, including some areas in which there are significant Hindu populations, including parts of Essex, East London and the Midlands. It is worth remembering that the BNP got as much as 10% of the vote in these areas in the General Election which tend to have a much higher turnout. Judging by the small number of votes by which local elections are often won or lost - your vote could be crucial.

It is unfortunate that so many of us can’t be bothered to vote. It leaves democracy open to subversion by determined forces that can sway outcomes through relatively small measures. It even amplifies the prospect for fraud becoming a significant factor in electoral outcome.

Democracy is valuable. There are more reasons to vote in local elections than just to keep the BNP out of power (although this is a particularly pressing concern). Local councillors can make a great difference to the communities in which they live. It is worth finding about the candidates and policies on which elections are being fought in your area, and to exercise the right, which has been won and preserved through much, struggle and sacrifice.

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT / DISCUSS