Sir, – By far the best arrangement would be to hold the general election on a Saturday or Sunday. The majority of voters would have time to exercise their franchise in a more relaxed atmosphere, more students and workers would be in their home constituencies, and the many schools used as polling stations would not have to close.
The practice of holding elections on a Thursday stems from the outmoded British belief that, this being the day before payday, there was likely to be less drunkenness about and the influence of Sunday church sermons would be greatly reduced.
It is notable that, of our 27 partners in the European Union, 20 sensibly hold their elections on a Sunday and five on a Saturday. – Yours, etc,
JACK MORRISSEY,
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Dublin 16.