Orkney goes to the polls . . .

After weeks of campaigning by the five UK parliamentary candidates, voters in Orkney and Shetland go to the polls today, Thursday, to choose their MP for the UK Government.

Polling stations across Mainland Orkney will open between 7am and 10pm.

This year, for the first time, the votes for the Orkney and Shetland constituency are being counted in Shetland.

After close of poll, the ballot boxes will be transported, under escort, from Orkney to the Clickimin Centre, Lerwick, with a result expected in the early hours of Friday morning.

Orkney Islands Council is reminding voters to check their polling cards for the location of their polling station and that, although they do not need their polling cards to vote, it will speed up the process if they are brought.

Voters in Stromness, Harray and Sandwick should also note that their polling stations have changed location.

Voters in Stromness should go to the Warehouse Buildings, at the pierhead, and Harray and Sandwick voters should go to the Milestone Church in Dounby.

OIC reports that there are 16,756 voters registered in Orkney, including 4,125 postal voters — or 24.6 per cent.

Postal voters are reminded that their completed votes should reach the Council Offices by close of poll and that postal votes can be handed in to polling stations on polling day.

There are 17 polling stations in total, which will be staffed by 36 polling station staff.

•  The last UK General Election, which was held on May 6, 2010, saw a voter turnout of 58.3 per cent for Orkney. This meant that 9,337 out of a possible 16,007 people voted, with 10,071 out of a possible 17,078 in Shetland casting their votes — representing 59 per cent of the electorate.

  This gave a combined total for both island groups of 58.7 per cent.