Zahra Borno reflects on the state of democracy in the run-up to Thursday's local elections.

Let's face facts: to some people, local politics is about as boring as it gets. What goes on in Westminster can be perceived as more exciting and important, almost glamorous, but local government is the Cinderella of the political machine.

Though the right to vote in a democratic election is a luxury enjoyed in the western world, research shows that England has the lowest turn-out rate for local elections in Europe.

Just 29 per cent of the electorate voted in last year's Oxford City Council election, although when local elections were held on the same day as the 1997 General Election the turn-out rate soared to a massive 69 per cent.

Tomorrow's election battle will be one of the most important in Oxford for decades as Labour battles to keep control of the city council.

The party currently has a tiny majority of five and forecasters believe there is a strong possibility the council could become hung like Oxfordshire County Council which could lead to political wrangling and delays on decisions. If more people voted, a truer picture of the way people feel about the way their city is run could be drawn.

In many cases it is apathy that stops people from voting but this attitude shows a complete misunderstanding of the power of local government and how it works.

Many people view local government as a toothless tiger with little or no clout. But what people tend to overlook is the fact that it is the local authority which takes responsibility for important issues such as schools, transport and housing.

Professor of Government at Brasenose College Vernon Bogdanor says: "So many of the services that closely relate to people's everyday lives are run by the local council, rather than central Government. "People don't understand the importance of local government.

"They often write to their MPs on matters that are issues for local, rather than national, government.

"They forget that it is far easier to affect things on a local level. Councillors tend to live in their wards, or close by, and this makes them easily accessible.

"Or, say you weren't happy with your child's education you could make an appointment to see the council's chief education officer to discuss the problem.

"You're more likely to get to see him or her than you are to see David Blunkett, the education secretary."

He is clear on why fewer people are turning up to vote they just don't find it sexy. "Too many people find local government boring. It bores absolutely. Decisions are made by committees and people don't find this system terribly inspiring. If you had a mayor and politics became centred on a personality rather than purely policies it generates more excitement and makes more people vote. I think some councillors are guilty of not taking enough trouble to make themselves known and inevitably this means that people don't know who is standing.

"Therefore they simply don't vote." The city may have a 29 per cent turn-out rate but to reach that average there is a massive difference between the highest and lowest turn-out rates.

Blackbird Leys traditionally has the lowest turn-out rate in Oxford. Last year just 13.6 per cent of people eligible to vote went along to the polling station. The highest turn-out rate was in Wolvercote ward where 41.2 per cent of voters turned out.

Oxford city council's electoral services manager Martin John says: "You can match turn-out rates with deprivation. The richer the area then the higher the turn-out rate. Many people have a problem believing their vote will make a difference. They wonder what is the point. "But what they fail to realise is that some of the results are extremely close.

"Some seats have a margin of just a couple of hundred and in cases like that people can make a real difference. Tomorrow's elections are going to be the most keenly contested in the 20 years since Labour gained control in 1980.

"Labour has been haemorrhaging seats since 1997. They have a majority of five and if they lose three then they lose control of the council. Everything is up for grabs this year.

"I urge everyone to get out there and vote. If everyone voted we would have very different results."

Research shows that young people in particular are opting not to vote. In a recent survey of 18 to 24-year-olds, just 12 per cent said they would regularly vote in their local council elections.

More than half (52 per cent) insisted they would never vote in a local election.

In some countries they would not be allowed to have such an attitude. In Australia and Belgium voting is compulsory.