© Provided by The iAround 48 million voters in England, Scotland and Wales will take to the polls on Thursday 6 May (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Almost 48 million people in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible to vote today in a set of elections dubbed "Super Thursday".
Voters are heading to the polls to elect devolved governments, local councils, police commissioners and mayors.
There are certain rules around voting at polling stations (which are open until 10.00pm tonight). There are misconceptions, too, such as the old conspiracy theories about using your own pens and pencils - here's how it all works.
Can I use a pen to vote today?
Not only are you allowed to use pens in the local elections - this year, it's actively encouraged.
Voters have been urged to bring their own writing implements to vote at their polling station in a bid to keep the process as hygienic as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, you can still vote if you don't bring one, with the Electoral Commission confirming: "Clean pencils will be available for each voter."
In the past there have been unfounded fears that the use of pencils increases the possibility of fraud, as people could rub out the chosen party and write a new one.
This fear was extremely pronounced at the Brexit referendum when Leave voters were urged to take pens with them to stop people from tampering with their ballots. At the time, some wrongly believed there was an MI5 plot to manipulate the vote, hence why pens were need to thwart it.
This was entirely unsubstantiated, but the Electoral Commission reiterated that voters were well within their rights to bring a pen if they wanted to.
"In regards to security, at the count there are statutory observers to make sure that they are carried out correctly," a spokesperson said. "Campaigners are also invited to observe the counts taking place."
This hasn't stopped hashtags such as #usepens and #useapen from circulating on social media at subsequent votes - although many are simply mocking the old conspiracy theory.
© Provided by The iThere are so many elections around the UK this year that polling day has been dubbed 'Super Thursday' (Photo: Getty)
How do you vote at a polling station?
Your polling station, which is likely to be a public building such as a school or community hall close to your address (although not necessarily the nearest station), will be included on the polling card sent to you in the post.
If you have misplaced or not received your card, you can check on the Electoral Commission website by entering your postcode here. If it doesn't have the details of your polling station, the website will have the local council contacts you need to double check.
Polling stations for all UK elections opened at 7am. You have until 10.00pm tonight to get to your voting place, and you will be allowed to cast your ballot as long as you are in the queue before closing time.
When you arrive, tell the presiding officer or poll clerk your name and address so that they can check if you're on the electoral register - you won't need to take your polling card or photo ID to the polling station.
They will then cross your name off their list, and give you a ballot paper (or more than one, if you are voting in multiple elections) listing the parties and candidates you can vote for.
Take your time to read the information on the ballot paper carefully because different elections (such as the Holyrood vote) work in different ways.
If you make a mistake, you can ask for a new ballot paper (as long as you haven't put it in the ballot box yet) from a member of staff.
Once you've cast your vote with whatever your chosen writing implement is, simply fold it in half and put it into the ballot box.
How else has Covid-19 affected polling stations?
The Electoral Commission has issued the following guidance on how polling stations are adapting to the Covid-19 pandemic this year:
- Social distancing measures will be in place, and there may be a limit on how many people are allowed inside the polling station.
- When you go inside, you will be expected to wear a face covering like you do when you go into shops or on public transport.
- You should sanitise your hands when you go into the polling station and when you leave. Hand sanitiser will be available on entry and exit.
- The polling station staff may be behind protective screens, like staff in shops, but you will still be able to ask them for help if you need it.
- Polling station staff will be cleaning regularly, so you might need to wait for a polling booth to be cleaned before you can use it.
- You are welcome to take your own pencil or pen with you if you'd like to. Clean pencils will be available for each voter.
- Where possible, polling stations will have a one-way system, so be prepared to follow the signage and any instructions.