POLITICIANS like to meet people. We often call on residents to find out what they are thinking, and at election time, to ask whether they might support us in the ballot box.

Like Dave Pidduck (Opinion September 3), I am amazed at how many people just don't vote – especially in local elections. While South Lakeland has a relatively high turnout percentage, at the last district elections the majority of wards had less than a 50 per cent turnout.

We often hear on the doorstep: "my vote won't make a difference" or "you're all the same" or "it does not effect me".

Well as Dave said, we are not all the same, and how you vote will effect you and your family.

I want to cite two very recent examples to illustrate this:

The government has just announced that it will legislate to allow the establishment of new grammar schools. Studies show that educational inequalities are widened by selection. Is that what we want in Cumbria? You can tell us via the ballot box.

The government seems determined to reduce the projected number of new houses available for affordable rent. New legislation will make it increasingly difficult for SLDC to achieve its target of 1,000 affordable new homes to rent by 2025. There are ways to achieve this target in spite of the government discouragement. But it will take political will. Again, we need to hear from you as to what you want.

While I always like to hear on the doorstep that residents will be supporting us, I am the saddest when I hear that the resident is just not voting. This really is your chance to influence the future. It is such a shame to waste that chance.

Mike Starkie, elected mayor of Copeland