THOUSANDS of people in Bolton will be able to cast their vote in the local council elections from Monday as the town's first ever all postal poll gets under way.

Voters have about a fortnight during which they can choose their candidates.

More than 250,000 voting papers are going out across the borough to registered voters and are being delivered from Monday by Royal Mail.

The envelopes are marked with a purple flash to identify them among other items in householders' post.

People are asked to send their votes back in the pre-paid envelopes to the Town Hall by April 29.

However, voting does not officially close until 9pm on May 1. Votes will be accepted until then.

Some voters will be voting twice as they will also be choosing their representatives on the local councils at Horwich, Blackrod and Westhoughton. They will receive two ballot papers

The process is simple. Voters will have to put a cross against their chosen candidate for the Bolton borough council elections (or candidates for the parish council elections), seal the voting paper, then sign the declaration of identity.

It should then be placed in the pre-paid envelope and sent back to Bolton Town Hall.

Electors also voting in the parish council elections should place both ballot papers in the one envelope. People must sign the declaration attached to the ballot paper or their vote will not be valid and will not be counted.

Bernard Knight, Bolton's Returning Officer, said: "The borough-wide postal vote involving all 20 wards is part of the Government initiative to try to encourage more people to exercise their vote."

People who have registered and have not received a ballot paper by April 24 should contact the Elections Office at Bolton Council on 01204 331247/331248.

THOUSANDS of people in Bolton will be able to cast their vote in the local council elections from Monday as the town's first ever all postal poll gets under way.

Voters have about a fortnight during which they can choose their candidates.

More than 250,000 voting papers are going out across the borough to registered voters and are being delivered from Monday by Royal Mail.

The envelopes are marked with a purple flash to identify them among other items in householders' post.

People are asked to send their votes back in the pre-paid envelopes to the Town Hall by April 29.

However, voting does not officially close until 9pm on May 1. Votes will be accepted until then.

Some voters will be voting twice as they will also be choosing their representatives on the local councils at Horwich, Blackrod and Westhoughton. They will receive two ballot papers

The process is simple. Voters will have to put a cross against their chosen candidate for the Bolton borough council elections (or candidates for the parish council elections), seal the voting paper, then sign the declaration of identity.

The ballot should then be placed in the pre-paid envelope and sent back to Bolton Town Hall.

Electors also voting in the parish council elections should place both ballot papers in the one envelope. People must sign the declaration attached to the ballot paper or their vote will not be valid. Bernard Knight, Bolton's Returning Officer, said: "The borough-wide postal vote involving all 20 wards is part of a Government initiative to try to encourage more people to exercise their vote."

People who have registered and have not received a ballot paper by April 24 should contact the Elections Office at Bolton Council on 01204 331247/331248.