HAVING retired in October, 1997, as Elections Officer for Bolton MBC, I was astonished to see my photograph as a header to the letter from Anthony J Boddy "Ungrateful are not worth my postal vote".

I need to correct some matters in the article:

1. The photograph was giving publicity to a new plastic ballot box, which I purchased to replace all the old tin boxes.

2. The General Election was in 1997.

3. Mr Boddy will NOT be asked to sign his ballot paper! He will be asked to sign a Declaration of Indemnity.

4. The ballot paper will be marked in the usual way with a cross and placed in an envelope exclusively for the ballot paper, this maintaining the secrecy of the ballot.

J A Fielding

Carlton Street

Farnworth, Bolton