THE only certainty in my mind about the General Election is that I will vote. I will vote for a candidate I know well enough to have a good idea of his or her intentions.

I need to add that I always do vote in elections. I will be 82 years old on the date of the election.

The first time I cast a vote I was just 22 years old.

I know that some people are attracted to politics for the wrong reasons, but in my experience the vast majority in all parties who engage themselves in active politics do so with the service of the public at the top of their minds.

I am almost certain that all the members of my family over whom I have had some influence do still vote.

At the election I am uncertain about both the turnout and the outcome.

I do think that the economic situation is so dire that it is reasonable to expect more people to vote than did in the past two General Elections because they will realise it is important to get the right people in power to improve the situation.

Geoffrey Bulmer, Billingham.