Time to cast your vote

Photo: Darren Robinson

OPENING up . . . Julie Walker (presiding officer) and Bob Shepherd (poll clerk) at South Chadderton Youth Centre

POLLING booths opened this morning as Oldhamers prepared cast their vote for the first ever Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Residents have until 10pm to vote with eight candidates vying for the position.

More than 1,400 polling stations are open in Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan. The count for all 10 Greater Manchester local authority areas, and the declaration of the winning candidate, will take place at Manchester Central tomorrow.

This election uses the Supplementary Voting System, which gives electors the opportunity to cast their vote for their first and second choice candidates, with more than 50 per cent of the vote needed to win before second choices are taken into account.