DAVID Buckle, the Vale of White Horse District Council chief executive, urged people to vote (Oxford Mail, May 3), but in the same article states “there is no guideline for when voting cards have to be sent out and in theory I could send them out the day before the election”.

Shame on you, Mr Buckle, or do you not believe in democracy?

Presumably Mr Buckle is also responsible for the late arrival of postal voting cards.

He asked those who received their cards too late to return by post to return them to the council offices or a polling station.

Does he not realise people request a postal vote (their democratic right) because, for whatever reason, they are unable to vote at the polling station, but they want to vote.

Some who did receive their postal vote in time also had a problem.

The district and parish council voting forms were each given a bar code number.

The same numbers were also printed on the single envelope, and voters were asked to ensure that the numbers on the form and the envelope corresponded before placing the forms into the envelope.

Unfortunately some differed, and, when confronted, Mr Buckle’s staff said: “We know about this – don’t worry, just put the forms in the envelope anyway.”

Can this be the same Mr Buckle who, at the previous council election, presided over polling cards being issued with incorrect polling station details?

Getting four out of four wrong is hardly chief executive material.

Perhaps Mr Buckle will do the honourable thing and resign; allowing someone who is genuinely interested in democracy to take his place.

R HALE (Mr), Laurel Drive, Southmoor