Local elections again

I took my mask and voting card today to the village hall to vote for a local councillor. The local police commissioner I did not vote for. Democracy is not just handing in a voting slip – the important part is making an informed decision about the choice of candidates. In the absence of any information at all, how can I fulfill my obligations as a citizen? The lady behind the desk ticking my name off had the same opinion. Those who seek public office should lose their rights to privacy. I want to know something about people before I vote for them: what education they have had, what books they read, the colour of their pyjamas. Would you vote for a person with a union jack tattoo? The electoral commission, or whoever organizes local elections, is making a mockery of democracy by offering us the shadow – the voting booths and slips of paper – without the substance – the necessary information to make a choice.