The Black vote could be crucial in May’s general election and writing “not in my name” on your ballot paper is a better option than not voting at all.

This is the view of Operation TickIt, an organisation set up to try and get people from Black and ethnic minority communities to realise the importance of voting.

Croydon North and Croydon Central are two of the constituencies across the country the group is targeting as there are a high proportion of potential Black and minority ethnic voters.

TickIt organiser Chester Morrison said ethnic minority concerns were not well reflected in the 2010 election manifestos from any of the three main parties.

Speaking at a workshop held at Croydon BME Forum in London Road, West Croydon, on Thursday, he said: “People have voluntarily disenfranchised themselves.

“It’s that sense of powerlessness and trying to understand how they can gain some influence.

“They do not see themselves as a group, they see themselves as an individual and as a powerless individual there is nothing we can do to change this system.

“If you’re saying you cannot identify with somebody on the voting list then go to the polling booth and spoil your ballot paper because then you are saying you aren’t satisfied with the list.

“If you do not go to vote then you are apathetic.

“We think it’s in the interests of democracy for all sections of society to vote.”