JOURNAL-LAND goes to the polls next week (May 6).

Wigan Council's 25th local election since the creation of the Metro in 1974, will give 213,000 people borough-wide the chance to vote.

And election chiefs are urging as many people as possible to exercise their democratic rights.

With 73 candidates standing, there's a choice in every ward for the first time in many years.

Candidates from all parties are hoping for a better turn-out than last year year when only one in five voters went to the polls.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Tom Sherratt, said: "The democratic rights we enjoy today were hard won over the past 150 years.

"It is a great pity if people do not exercise their right to vote and have their say about the quality of local services."

Across Wigan there will be 189 polling stations in schools, community centres and other public buildings.

These stations have to be set up and staffed from 8am-9pm by an army of poll clerks and presiding officers.

And once the polls close, hundreds of ballot boxes are transferred to the three counts - in Lowton Civic Hall, Trencherfield Mill and Ince Public Hall.

At the counts, 144 hand-picked counters start the task of adding up the votes under the eagle eyes of candidates.

But even before election day itself, a vast effort has been going on behind the scenes to ensure the list of people entitled to vote is up to day and accurate.

Since October last year, every household in the borough has been visited by a canvasser checking for changes to the electoral register, and these changes have to be included in the new register published in February.

Cllr Sherratt added: "Politics apart, local authorities invest a lot of time and money to ensure a fair and efficient election.

"Many people don't realise what is involved in making it as easy as possible for them to cast their vote.

"For the sake of a healthy democracy, I am urging everyone to do their utmost to turn out next Thursday and have their say."

A council spokesman said postal votes had been sent out to everyone who requested one.

"We normally get a good return of postal votes since people have gone out of their way to request them.

"We would like to remind people that they need to be received in the elections office by the day of the poll on May 6th."

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