IN the UK anyone who lives in two different constituencies can register to vote in both of them but can only cast one vote in a General Election.

This applies to students as well as those who have second homes, or who work away from home for extended periods.

On June 8 many students voted in their university cities because term hadn’t finished, or because they spend most of their time living and working there.

Robert Carter seems to feel this is unfair (D&S Times, June 23). He describes students as exercising a “block vote” by voting in this way. He feels they voted with “no thought for the impact of their actions other than youthful idealism.”

Of course young people might see this differently. They might say that they are vastly outnumbered by older people and that older people have been exercising their block vote for many years.

They might point out that older voters have tended to vote for austerity measures regardless of the hardship it has caused. They have voted for low taxes and supported the bedroom tax. Last year they failed to check the “fact” that £350m would go straight to the NHS each week if we left the EU.

They might also remind older people that student grants were available for them and that rent controls gave them affordable accommodation.

People’s voting patterns are complex and age is just one factor. Seeing Labour’s gains solely as the product of the student vote misses the point that many people of all ages voted for change.

Of course we all have our own political opinions but to complain that some sections of the electorate used their legitimate vote and made the “wrong” decision seems at odds with democracy.

Beverley Lawrence, Richmond