ABOUT 500 hundreds candidates are standing across Sussex today as local elections take place.

In East Sussex, there are 50 seats available, while in West Sussex there are 70. 

The Argus has heard from the main political parties on the biggest issues in East Sussex.

We have also spoken to political leaders across West Sussex about why their candidates deserve your vote.

In Brighton, by-elections are taking place in the Hollingdean and Stanmer ward and the Patcham ward.

There will also be the chance to vote for the Sussex police and crime commissioner. 

Today's election will be the biggest outside of a general election and across England, 143 local councils are up for election

You can vote in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy - nominating somebody to vote on your behalf.

The deadline to register to vote in person for this set of local elections was April 19.

You can follow all the live updates from polling day here.

Voting is taking place in the following wards in East Sussex:

  • Ashdown and Conquest
  • Baird and Ore 
  • Battle and Crowhurst 
  • Bexhill North 
  • Central St Leonards and Gensing
  • Chailey
  • Crowborough North and Jarvis Brook 
  • Devonshire 
  • Forest Row and Groombridge
  • Hailsham Market 
  • Hampden Park
  • Lewes
  • Meads
  • Newhaven and Bishopstone
  • Northern Rother
  • Old Hastings and Tressell
  • Old Town
  • Ouse Valley West and Downs
  • Peacehaven
  • Pevensey and Stone Cross
  • Ratton
  • Rye and Eastern
  • St Helens and Silverhill
  • Uckfield North

Voting is taking place in the following wards in West Sussex:

  • Angmering and Findon 
  • Arundel and Courtwick
  • Bersted
  • Bewbush and Ifield West
  • Billingshurst
  • Bognor Regis East
  • Bognor Regis West and Aldwick
  • Bourne
  • Bramber Castle
  • Broadbridge
  • Broadfield
  • Broadwater
  • Burgess Hill East
  • Burgess Hill North
  • Chichester East
  • Chichester North
  • Chichester South
  • Chichester West
  • Cissbury
  • Cuckfield and Lucastes
  • Durrington and Salvington
  • East Grinstead Meridian
  • East Grinstead South and Ashurst Wood
  • East Preston and Ferring
  • Felpham
  • Fontwell
  • Goring
  • Hassocks and Burgess Hill South
  • Haywards Heath East
  • Haywards Heath Town
  • Henfield
  • Holbrook
  • Horsham East
  • Horsham Hurst
  • Horsham Riverside
  • Hurstpierpoint and Bolney
  • Imberdown
  • Lancing
  • Langley Green and Ifield East
  • Lindfield and High Weald
  • Littlehampton East
  • Littlehampton Town
  • Maidenbower and Worth 
  • Middleton 
  • Midhurst
  • Northbrook
  • Northgate and West Green
  • Nyetimber
  • Petworth
  • Pound Hill
  • Pulborough
  • Rother Valley
  • Rustington
  • Selsey
  • Shoreham North
  • Shoreham South
  • Sompting and North Lancing
  • Southgate and Gossops Green
  • Southwater and Nuthurst
  • Southwick
  • St Leonard's Forest
  • Storrington
  • Tarring
  • The Witterings
  • Three Bridges
  • Tilgate and Furnace Green
  • Worth Forest
  • Worthing East
  • Worthing Pier
  • Worthing West