Polls open for Local Authority Elections in five constituencies 

Residents in Douglas, Castletown, Peel, Patrick and Ramsey can vote until 8pm tonight

Across the Island today, a number of local authorities are holding an election for residents to choose new representatives for their areas.

In Douglas South, Castletown, Peel, Patrick and Ramsey North Ward voters will be able to have their say and provide a mandate for the commissioners for the next four years.

This time there are changes to polling station rules to make voting ‘flexible’.

In Castletown there are nine candidates going for seven vacancies, whilst in Ramsey there are eight people for six seats to make a board of 12 – Ramsey’s south ward was uncontested.

Peel has a choice of eight candidates for seven vacancies, along with Patrick which has six people contesting five seats.

Douglas South has four candidates vying for three seats to make up a council of 12 people – all other wards were uncontested.

There’s no election in Andreas, Arbory and Rushen, Bride, Braddan, Ballaugh, Douglas North, East and Central wards, Garff, German, Jurby, Lezayre, Malew, Marown, Michael, Onchan, Port Erin and Port St Mary, Ramsey South Ward and Santon because all the seats were filled by nomination day.

For this election, the Cabinet Office has introduced changes to make voting ‘more flexible for residents.

Those in Patrick and in Douglas are allowed to choose which polling station they want to use rather than just being given a designated location.

The only rule is the venue must be allocated in the correct constituency.

Patrick’s polling stations are Foxdale Primary School, Knockaloe Visitor Centre and St James Church.

Douglas South’s locations are Scoill Vallajeelt, Douglas City Hall, Meadows Pavilion at Douglas Golf Club and the Anagh Coar car park mobile unit.

People in Castletown and Ramsey will be able to cast ballots at their town halls respectively, whilst those in Peel have been allocated the Corrin Hall.

All the polling stations will be open from 8am until 8pm today.