Polling stations across Bournemouth, Broadstone and Poole opened at 7am today for town council elections.
More than 130 polling stations are welcoming voters until 10pm tonight, with residents choosing representatives for 3 newly created town councils operating beneath BCP Council.
A total of 50 councillors will be elected across the area, with Bournemouth and Poole each selecting 21 councillors while Broadstone will elect 8.
The new councils will form an additional tier of local government and will manage their own budgets independently of BCP Council. Residents who are registered to vote can check where to cast their ballot by using the polling station finder on the BCP Council website.
Anyone planning to vote must bring an accepted form of photographic identification, including a passport, driving licence, Blue Badge or Voter Authority Certificate. Election guidance also confirms that expired identification can still be used if the voter remains clearly recognisable from the photograph.
Verification and counting of ballot papers will begin from 10am tomorrow, Friday 8 May. Election results are expected to be announced through BCP Council’s official website and social media channels once the counts have been completed.
Further information about the elections, including polling station details and voter identification guidance, is available through BCP Council and the Electoral Commission websites.