With just days to go before polling day on 6 May, Cheshire East Council is urging voters to get ready to cast their votes.

Cheshire East residents will go to the polls to have their say on who represents them as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire.

There will also be a small number of local council by-elections and neighbourhood planning referenda that also take place on 6 May.

Polling stations will be safe places to vote on 6 May. People voting in person are encouraged to keep themselves and others safe by:

Wearing a face covering;

Bringing their own pen or pencil;

Cleaning their hands when entering the polling station; and

Keeping a safe distance.

Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of Covid-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate. Anyone who develops symptoms, or is asked to self-isolate shortly before polling day, has up to 5pm on polling day to apply for an emergency proxy vote. This allows them to nominate someone they trust to vote on their behalf.

Cheshire East Council's chief executive Lorraine O'Donnell, who is the Returning Officer for elections in the borough, said: "Your poll card will tell you where to find your polling station. Make sure you check the information on your polling card, as your polling station might have changed since the last elections.

"You do not need your poll card to vote, however, we encourage you to bring it with you to make the process quicker and more efficient.

"Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday 6 May. Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm – and they can hand it in at their polling station if they don't have time to return it by post."

Ailsa Irvine, director of electoral administration and guidance at the Electoral Commission, said: "If you are voting in person, make sure you remember to bring your face covering and a pen or pencil with you. At the polling station, help keep yourself and others safe by following the safety measures, including sanitising your hands and keeping a safe distance from others.

"If you are self-isolating or become unwell as a result of Covid-19, you don't need to lose your vote. You will be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote so that someone you trust can vote on your behalf."

For further information on how to apply for an emergency proxy, voters should contact the electoral registration team at Cheshire East Council on 0300 123 5016.

For further information on elections in their area, voters can visit the Electoral Commission website. This page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls.