THE polls have opened for by-elections in Brighton today - here's everything you need to know about the seats up for grabs.
It comes as hundreds of people go to the polls for local elections in East and West Sussex.
There will also be the chance to vote for the Sussex police and crime commissioner.
Today's by-elections are being held in the Hollingdean and Stanmer ward and the Patcham ward
It comes after Patcham Conservative Lee Wares resigned to move closer to his elderly parents.
While in Hollingdean and Stanmer, Labour councillor Tracey Hill resigned to move to Derbyshire for family reasons.
- READ MORE: Who can I vote for in the Brighton and Hove by-elections?
Results are expected tomorrow and all the latest updates from polling day can be found on our live page here.
There are five candidates standing in a by-election in Patcham ward:
- Bruno De Oliveira - Labour
- Charles Goodhand - UKIP
- Madelaine Hunter-Taylor - Liberal Democrat
- Anne Meadows - Conservative
- Eliza Wyatt - Green Party
While in Hollingdean and Stanmer, seven candidates are standing:
- Emma Dawson-Bowling - Conservative
- Leila Erin-Jenkins - Labour
- Nigel Furness - Independent
- Alex Hargreaves - Liberal Democrat
- Zoë John - Green Party
- Des Jones - UKIP
- Rob Somerton-Jones - Trade Union and Socialist Coalition
Current composition of Brighton and Hove City Council
How to vote
If you are a resident in one of those wards you can cast your vote for a councillor to represent you as part of Brighton and Hove City Council.
Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 6 May 2021.
To vote in a local by-election you must:
- be registered to vote at an address within the ward
- be 18 years old or over on 6 May 2021
- not be legally excluded from voting
- be a British, Irish, EU or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen
You must vote in your assigned polling station as stated on your polling card
Covid-19 safety
The council has put the following measures in place to allow people to vote safely at polling stations:
- staff and voters are required to wear face coverings where they are able to
- there will be hand-sanitising stations on the way in and out of polling stations
- regular cleaning of polling booths and pencils
- social distancing of at least 2 metres
- queues outside to minimise interactions and keep you safe
- confirming the number of electors that can be safely allowed in each polling station at any time - once at capacity a one in, one out policy will be in place
You must not visit a polling station if you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms of coronavirus.
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