ELECTIONS for Dorset County Council are being held on June 4.

Forty-five seats are up for grabs at County Hall, with residents served by district councils in Christchurch, East Dorset, North Dorset, and Purbeck among those eligible to vote.

More than 150 nominations have been received, with 45 Conservatives, 44 Liberal Democrats, and 39 Labour candidates among those standing.

UKIP has nominated 15 candidates, the Green Party has entered four, the Co-operative Party two, and the British National Party has entered one candidate.

"The 45 successful candidates will be responsible for decisions affecting people and communities across Dorset for the next four years,” said returning officer David Jenkins.

“These elections are a vital opportunity for local people to exercise their democratic right and make their voice heard. Each vote counts for Dorset,” he added.

Several new faces are expected in the council chamber with 11 councillors deciding not to stand again.

Polling stations will be open across the county from 7am until 10pm. Voters will be given two ballot papers to fill in – one for the county council election and one for elections to the European Parliament.

The county council paper will be green, while the European election ballot paper will be yellow. People can vote for candidates in each election. Forms will be deposited in the same ballot box.

Votes will be counted at six venues across the county, in most cases during the morning of June 5. Council officers have pledged to keep ballot papers under lock and key overnight.

Results are expected in the afternoon of June 5 and will be posted on Dorset County Council’s web site.

DORSET COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS CANIDATES 2009.doc