I would like to refer to the two letters in the Bolton Evening News of March 11, from Bernard Knight, Returning Officer, and J A Fielding, former Elections Officer, concerning voting secrecy.

Firstly, I recall the previous system of voting. At the Polling Station, on stating your name and address, this was checked against the electoral register and a ballot paper then given to you.

The ballot paper had printed on it the names of the candidates and a reference number at the top.

The counterfoil in the book from which the voting form was detached, bore the same reference number, together with the name and address of the voter.

Many years ago I took this up with the Returning Officer in Westhoughton, suggesting that it would be possible to discover how a person had voted.

He agreed, but said that the system was designed to ensure that the ballot could not be abused and used for no other purpose.

I now go back to the uncertain days of 1939, when there were extreme left and right wing parties in the country.

For reasons of national security it was desirable to know the identity of the members.

I had it on good authority at the time that this was done through the voting system.

Today we have a ballot paper, bearing a reference number, to which is attached a declaration form bearing the same number as the ballot paper.

It is then to be detached and both posted to the returning officer in the same envelope.

I have no doubt that a computer record is held showing my reference number, together with my name and address.

However, this is not Zimbabwe, nor do we have a pressing serious national emergency at the present time.

Therefore I feel confident that my vote will remain quite secret.

Nevertheless, I do state that in my opinion, because of the way the forms are numbered, that our system of voting does not guarantee 100 per cent secrecy in all circumstances.

John Robinson

Hughes Avenue

Horwich