Everything you need to know about placing your vote safely tomorrow

For the first time since December 2019, voters across Devon will go to the polls tomorrow (Thursday) in a series of local elections.

Elections will take place for all 60 seats on Devon County Council, the Devon & Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, and for various vacant parish and town council seats, including three in Colyton.

Placing your vote may feel a little different this year due to COVID regulations, so here's everything you need to know ahead of tomorrow's elections.

WHEN AND HOW CAN I VOTE?

Polling stations will open at 7am on Thursday, May 6, and close at 10pm later that day.  If there's a queue at your polling station, you'll still be able to vote as long as you joined the queue before 10pm.

Your polling station where you can vote from is listed on the polling card that you should have received in the post. This may be a different location to usual to allow for more space for social distancing, so double check and make sure you go to the correct polling station.

When you get your polling station, tell the polling station clerk your name, or give them your poll card. You don't need your poll card to vote, but it can help to speed up the process.

The staff will then give you a ballot paper listing the candidates you can vote for. You might be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election taking place in your local area on the same day.

Take your ballot paper to a polling booth, so that you can cast your vote in secret.

Read the instructions on the ballot paper carefully. Some elections use different voting methods, so you need to make sure you fill in each ballot paper correctly.

Voters are encouraged to bring their own pen or pencil to place their vote this year, but there will be pencils available if you forget.

You should complete your ballot paper as instructed. Don't write anything else on the paper, or your vote may not be counted.

If you make a mistake, don't put your ballot paper in the ballot box; ask the polling station staff for a replacement paper and fill it in again.

Once you're done, fold your completed ballot paper and put it in the ballot box.

Voting in person at a polling station will be a bit different this year in order to help keep everyone safe:

• A face covering – you will need to wear a face covering when you go in to the polling station, unless you are exempt.

• Hand sanitiser – this will be available at the entrance/exit of polling stations. Make sure that you use it before and after you cast your vote.

• Your own pen or pencil – it is advisable to bring your own pen or pencil this year. Don't worry, if you forget there will be clean pencils available.

• Keep your distance – social distancing measures will be in place and will be well signposted. It might mean that you have to queue so please factor this in to your plans and leave extra time.

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.

This must be something that you weren't aware of before the normal proxy vote deadline, such as a medical emergency, being away for work, and being told to self-isolate as a result of either contracting COVID-19 or being in contract with someone who has.

These applications can be made up to 5pm on polling day and your proxy will then cast the vote that you would have made for you.