Letter: Is There Voter Apathy or a Total Lack of Information?

Published on: 4 May, 2026
Updated on: 4 May, 2026

From Sara Tokunaga

In response to: Voters Should Choose Who Will Represent Them Best on Local Issues

I couldn’t agree more, with Cllr Maddy Redpath

Sadly, in the Guildford South West ward, as we are now called, there are no Independent candidates standing. We haven’t received any campaign literature from the Conservatives, Labour or Reform, and only one letter from the Liberal Democrats.

This led my elderly neighbour to ask if it is only the Greens who are standing, as they are the only ones to have sent out some leaflets, as far as she is aware.

It’s almost as if there isn’t an election on Thursday! Is it voter apathy or just a total lack of information? Not everyone could go to the hustings, nor is everyone on the internet.

Editor’s response: It is true that not everyone has internet access but most do these days and there is plenty of information on The Dragon, including candidate pen pictures, interviews and opinion. Please, Dragon readers, make others aware.

We have even created a page label so you can easily find many of the election articles in one place. Just click on it.

Responses to Letter: Is There Voter Apathy or a Total Lack of Information?

Sara Tokunaga Reply

May 5, 2026 at 9:01 am

Whilst I applaud the Dragon for filling the gap so efficiently, the fact does remain there are some members of our community who do not have, or do not like to use, the internet option.

My recommendation would be to vote for the person who is most local to you as there seem to be a number of candidates who have been parachuted in from areas far and wide. “Address in Guildford” covers a very large spectrum!
Barbara Ford Reply

May 6, 2026 at 10:35 am

Perhaps it depends where you live? We in fairly central Guildford have received a large number of circulars with campaign messages from each party – sadly no independent candidate here.

Editor’s comment: Do you live in Guildford town area? have you received a range of election leaflets?
Howard Moss Reply

May 6, 2026 at 3:27 pm

I live in Guildford South West ward and have not had any literature through my door from The Green Party, Labour or Reform. Only the Lib Dems have bothered, having delivered more than one leaflet/news letter, and the Lib Dems are also the only ones who it seems have canvassed.

Yes, it’s possible they all came when I was out, but I work from home, and someone is in every evening. I have also noticed there are no boards out in gardens. There was, however, a hustings organised by Onslow Village Residents Association at Onslow Village Hall, so good on them for that.
Tim Wolfenden Reply

May 6, 2026 at 4:28 pm

As well as the excellent work that The Dragon does informing residents about candidates, the Local Government Reorganisation hub on Surrey’s website at https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/elections/can-vote-1 provides links to lists of candidates, their profiles, leaflets etc.

Clearly this isn’t of help to those unable to access the internet, for which I would suggest that the Democratic Services department at Guildford Borough Council could have played a role, perhaps providing space at Millmead reception for election leaflets from each candidate in each ward. For those unable to get there, why not have more local sites too, eg within the Guildford South East ward where I am standing, the library would make an ideal location.

I’m aware that Residents’ Associations and similar have organised hustings in some wards, but unfortunately not in mine. I would have welcomed opportunity to answer questions alongside other candidates, but as an Independent candidate with limited resources I was unable to organise such, and not all other candidates appear to share my enthusiasm for public debate.

Editor”s comment: I asked GBC if The Dragon could organise a hustings in the Guildhall but officers said they could not waive the not inconsiderable hire charge. I thought the historic Guildhall was an eminently suitable venue, given that Guildford is losing it’s own local government for the first time in many centuries.