VOTERS are heading to the polls today to elect the 51 members who will make up South Lakeland District Council.

While the number of councillors remains the same as in previous years, the amount of wards has come down from 45 to 18.

In all 18 wards, changed under a Local Government Boundary Commission review, the public will vote for either two or three candidates, depending on the ward.

The changes have been implemented so that each councillor represents roughly the same number of electors.

With 180 candidates standing in total, ballots will have longer lists of names than in previous elections for people to vote for.

It will clearly state on the ballot paper how many people you are permitted to vote for.

If you vote for more than the number of people allowed, none of your votes will count and your paper will be deemed ‘spoiled’. You can, however, vote for fewer people than the maximum allowed.

The two or three candidates, depending on the ward, that receive the most votes will be elected.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm tonight.

The result will be published on South Lakeland District Council’s website, and covered by the Westmorland Gazette online and in next week’s paper, following the count tomorrow. Final results are not expected until Friday evening.

See your poll card for details of where you should cast your vote.

Those in Kendal will also have the opportunity to elect members in all 10 wards of Kendal Town Council, and there is a by-election for the Ulverston East seat of Ulverston Town Council.

The previous administration had a Liberal Democrat majority with 31 councillors from the party, with Giles Archibald as the leader.

There were also 16 Conservative members, two councillors from the Labour Party, one who was elected as an independent and the final seat was listed as vacant.