ON Saturday, I received a letter from the Electoral Reform Services reminding me that I hadn't cast my vote in the Blackburn with Darwen housing transfer poll and urging me to do so.

It appears that a list of names and addresses of council tenants married to a serial number on the ballot paper already exists. Such a list is an invasion of my privacy and that of everyone else eligible to vote, especially as a person's vote could also be noted alongside their name.

According to your report (LET, November 2) the council's head of housing, Phil Richards said: "I give people 100 per cent assurance that it's absolutely confidential which way people vote."

Mr Richards' assurances do not remove the possibility that information how an individual voted can be gleaned if it is so desired. Whether anyone does or does not is irrelevant.

Because of the total lack of secrecy, this alleged secret ballot should be declared null and void and a fresh batch of ballot papers and return envelopes circulated which do not contain any identifying marks whatsoever.

I have already written to the Home Secretary pointing out this breach in confidentiality and asked him to use his powers to declare the poll invalid and to order a truly secret re-run.

If anyone else shares my qualms, I urge them to write to him at his office in Richmond Terrace, Blackburn.

J BUCKLEY (Mr), Ulverston Close, Blackburn.