VOTERS across the North-East and North Yorkshire head to the polls today on what has been dubbed “Super Thursday” with a bumper crop of elections.

Once the polls close at 10pm, just like with all Parliamentary elections, counting will take place overnight for the Hartlepool by-election.

Due to the verification process of other elections taking place beforehand, counting is not expected to begin until 1.30am on the Friday, with a result not likely to occur before 4am.

Other local election counts will begin on Friday morning. The Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner count will take place in Thornaby with a result expected by early afternoon. It will then be followed by the Tees Valley Mayor election count, with a result in that expected by 5pm.

The count for the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner will also take place on Friday, with a result before the end of the day. The Durham Police and Crime Commissioner count will be held on Saturday morning.

The counting for Durham County Council local elections will begin on Friday morning, but a final result is not expected until Saturday evening, with the count being held across two days.

Due to the pandemic, there will be safety measures in place. They will be familiar measures: hands, face, space. 

Social distancing rules will apply and there may be a limit on how many people are allowed inside the polling station. 

When you go inside, you much wear a face covering like you do when you go into shops or on public transport. 

Voters are also being urged to sanitise hands when heading into and out of the polling station, as hand sanitiser will be available at each polling station.

Staff may also be behind protective screens, like staff in shops, but they are still there to help. Stations will also be cleaned regularly, so you might have to wait for a booth to be cleaned before you can use it.

While clean pencils will be available for each voter, you can take your own pen or pencil.

Stations should also have a one-way system, if possible, so be prepared to follow the signage and any instructions.

If you have Covid symptoms or have been asked to self-isolate you must not visit the polling station.

You can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on polling day.