T92 THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

in each constituency, they are not part of any candidate's legal
expenses. Some of these practices are inevitable; there are few
activities, political or non-political, in which the possession of
wealth does not give an advantage. The law might, however,
be made more effective by the reduction of the present high
limit of total expenditure. To-day, not only is the poorer party
at a disadvantage, but the non-party candidate is even more
handicapped. Such "independent** candidates are usually
people of means, or else well-known and liked in the district
and so able to command the services of many friends.

ELECTORS AND ELECTED.

Even the shrewdest observer can give no certain answer to
the question, How do the electors make up their minds how to
vote? About one quarter of them do not vote at all. Some
are ^prevented by illness or absence; long hours, of work
and great distance from the polling station may make voting
so difficult for some that only the most zealous of them will
attempt it* Some are too old to care very much; others, particu-
larly the younger electors, are more interested in sports and
social activities. Some do not find themselves sufficiently in
sympathy with any candidate to wish to vote. There remain
those who, without any of these excuses, cannot be bothered
to think about politics and do not believe it will make much
difference however they might vote.1 Those who do vote are
influenced by many factors. Some vote as their parents did,
though this is less common than formerly; sometimes a tradition
of voting one way spreads over a whole district. Some vote for
the candidate they think will win; some vote against the
Government, whatever its nature, because life has not gone
well with them lately and they feel, rightly or wrongly, that
the Government is to blame. These unthinking groups do nbt
form a large proportion of the whole. There are the convinced

1 This is common in constituencies where one party regularly secures
a large majority.