THIS is it now. Only five days to go until voting day.

It’s squeaky bum time, as Alex Ferguson used to say.

I’m lucky because living as I do in Chapeltown – up near Edgworth – my vote actually matters.

We are in the Rossendale and Darwen constituency where Labour and Tories are neck and neck at 40 per cent in the polls – so every vote really is crucial.

Will Straw, son of Labour stalwart Jack Straw, and the Conservatives’ Jake Berry, who has been the sitting MP for the last five years will fight it out in a two horse race.

I feel sorry for those who live in so-called safe seats – because even if you are voting for the party which is guaranteed to win, it still feels like a bit of a waste of time voting.

I have previously only voted in Bolton North East, which is a relatively safe Labour seat. The interesting fight in Bolton – apart from my own – is Bolton West, where again, your vote really does matter.

The contest was decided by just 92 votes in 2010 – but it seems unfair those who aren’t lucky enough to live in a marginal seat that their votes basically count for nothing.

It is surely time our out-dated voting system is reformed. We need some form of proportional representation – supported by parties as diverse as UKIP and the Lib Dems – but sadly, it is never going to happen while Labour or the Tories are in power as would not favour either of them.

Lib Dem Nick Clegg forced a referendum on the issue in 2011 but bizarrely the country voted against change. So maybe we have got the voting system we deserve.

I’ve actually already voted. I did it on Thursday night by post, which is a good job as on election day I’ll most likely be frantically running about the newsroom like a headless chicken. That said, I’m looking forward to the day itself. It promises to be one of the most exciting elections in decades and we’ll be covering it live on the night from Bolton Arena.

There will be a live blog, video interviews, rumours, gossip and in-depth analysis, all on our website – so make sure you tune in.

Following the excitement of the General Election on Thursday, the count for the local elections – that is for the councillors who represent you in Bolton Town Hall – takes place on Friday.

Again, we’ll be there, back at the arena, to bring you all the results. How will Bolton vote?

When David Cameron visited our offices at the start of his campaign, he said Bolton West effectively held the key to the election – whichever way you vote, the country will follow. No pressure then.