Peter Hain has criticised the "perverse" system of proportional representation used in elections to the Welsh assembly.

Speaking at the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) annual conference, he warned that the current electoral arrangements could have contributed to the poor 38 per cent turnout in May's election.

The Welsh secretary's warning comes as the Richard Commission, which is examining the powers and electoral arrangements of the Cardiff assembly, considers its final proposals.

"The lack of engagement in elections is a great threat to democracy, and one that we all have a responsibility to tackle," said Hain.

"When I remember the struggle to secure the vote in South Africa, the sacrifices my parents made in this struggle, and the 10,000 days that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, it angers me that it is so taken for granted in today's Britain."

And turning to the Welsh experience, Hain said that the "best of intentions to create the most proportional system can lead to outcomes more perverse than which occur under first past the post".

"The Conservatives would have gained only one seat in the assembly under a first past the post system both in 1999 and 2003. That would clearly not have represented their true support, which stood at nearly 20 per cent in the most recent elections," he accepted.

"Yet equally, how can it be right that under the system adopted candidates who are defeated in the constituency FPTP ballot can then be elected under the regional list ballot, and call themselves the member for the self-same constituency, as they can do now?"In the Clwyd West constituency, for example, three of the four defeated candidates were subsequently elected on the regional list, including one who had polled less than eight per cent of the constituency vote.

"If one of the reasons for low turnout is that people feel that their vote does not make much of a difference, then a result like this cannot encourage future participation."

"I hope that the Richard Commission will study this issue carefully and recommend reforms," Hain added.

Suggesting greater use of postal ballots as one way tackle apathy among Welsh voters, he also warned that "turnout at elections cannot be divorced from wider issues of participation and civic engagement".

The Welsh secretary pointed out that turnout has been falling throughout the democratic world.

"Yet if people do not connect with their democratic institutions, less still their democratic representatives, whether they be local councillors, assembly members, or members of parliament, then our whole democracy is imperilled," he said.

"Politicians cease to appear relevant to the public, an anti-political mood takes hold, which leads to increased disengagement."

Addressing the same conference, Sir Harry Jones, leader of the WLGA and Newport City Council, warned there was a "civic crisis" resulting from public disengagement from electoral participation.

He also said it was time to consider mandatory voting.

"Democratic complacency in all forms is unhealthy and dangerous, we must do all we can to protect democracy," said Sir Harry.