Sir, – Few people will miss the current presidential campaign as it winds up today – that is of those that actually engaged with it. Tomorrow we have the option to vote for the next president. But what do you do if you feel neither candidate represents you?

Do you simply stay at home and let others decide? That is a valid option. But what if, like me, you have a strong interest in democracy and never miss voting whether in local or national elections or referendums? What do you do then?

For the first time in over 40 years I will be spoiling my vote and I would encourage other people who are dissatisfied with the choice of candidates on offer to do likewise.

Since I made this decision a couple of weeks ago I have listened very carefully to the arguments against spoiling your vote. The main one is that you have no say in the eventual outcome.

This is true. But what do you do if cannot embrace either candidate? I have heard people saying vote for the least worst option. I have never done this in voting before and frankly it’s quite sad if that is the way you choose your candidate.

In some countries there is an option on a ballot paper such as “none of the above” if you feel you cannot vote for any particular candidate but yet would like to exercise your franchise. This is right and proper because voting should be free and consensual and one should not feel pressured into voting a particular way. We do not have that system in Ireland.

A spoiled vote is a perfectly legitimate way under our current system to express your dissatisfaction with the list of candidates offered.

Spoiled votes are not simply discarded, they are counted and are a permanent record along with all the “valid” votes.

To spoil your vote is an exercise in democracy and is far preferable than staying at home which simply means you couldn’t care less. – Yours, etc,

TOMMY RODDY,

Ballybane,

Co Galway.

Sir, – There has been much debate in your newspaper about whether to spoil a vote, to vote for a phantom candidate, or to vote for a lesser evil (Opinion, Breda O’Brien, October 20th, and Letters, Fiona O’Connor, October