There are no doubt many reasons for the low turn-out of voters in recent local elections in Bradford. Apathy, disenchantment, a feeling among individuals that they can't make a difference, a declining interest in local affairs, heavy rain on the day...they all play a part in keeping people away from exercising their right to have their say at the ballot box.

Whatever the reasons, it is bad news for local democracy that in last year's elections fewer than a third of those eligible to vote bothered to do so, and that in one ward (Tong) only 16.44 per cent turned out.

Because a low turn-out is traditionally thought to favour the Tories, there are bound to be suspicions that the proposed campaign by Bradford's Labour-controlled Council to persuade more people to vote is politically motivated.

But if the campaign is scrupulously fair and unbiased, and if it succeeds in boosting the number of voters of all political persuasions, then the end result must be a Council which better reflects the aspirations and anxieties of the people of the district. In that case, the £32,000 will have been money well spent.

If it is to be effective, the campaign needs to remind people that their vote is important and that if they don't exercise it then they have limited grounds to complain about whatever the Council does. And it needs to reassure them that they really are a key part of the democratic process whose views matter. For that to happen, the Council needs to be seen to be totally open and accountable at all times.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.