Invalid poll

HANGING chads, electronic voting and X in the Yes box – no wonder so many countries have problems deciding who has actually won an election.

Iraq has subtly simplified the system. Sophisticated enough to trace the authenticity and origin of each and every thumbprint, Baghdad’s blood and DNA analysis department has taken the guesswork out of their complex proportional voting system. Those who vote against the party ticket haven’t got a leg to stand on. Or a thumb to print with. Or an ounce of sense.

Richard Dowling,