Polling Stations open for voters as #SelbyDecides

Voters are casting votes at polling stations throughout the Selby area as the 2015 general election campaign draws to a close.

All 93 of the Selby area's polling stations opened at 7 o'clock this morning with ballots being cast in upto three separate elections. 

Throughout the area, voters are being faced with a decision over which of six nominated candidates should be elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Selby and Ainsty.

A second ballot paper will also give a choice over the 31 men and women that will sit on Selby District Council for the next four years.

Those in some areas of the district – including here in Selby Town – a third paper will enable the electorate to make a choice in how their local town or parish council is made up. Low numbers of persons nominated mean some parishes have not been contested with all candidates being elected without a single vote being cast.

Polls will close at 10 o'clock tonight when the business of counting the votes will begin in earnest.

Votes are to be counted at the Riley Smith Hall in Tadcaster following a controversial decision by poll organisers to move the count out of Selby for the first time. Dozens of count staff will verify and count the votes through the night with a declaration on who will be the areas next MP expected at around 3am.

Next in line to be counted will be the ballots cast in the District Council election. The full picture of the make up of the new District Councils should begin to take shape as dawn breaks.

Finally, votes cast in the various Selby area parish and town council votes should begin to tickle out throughout breakfast time. 

Full list of candidates standing for election to the Selby & Ainsty seat (in alphabetical order):

Polling will take place on May 7 between 7 am and 10 pm.