VOTERS young and old have been urged to make their vote count today by going to their local polling station - despite a forecast of heavy rain.

Mary Weastell, Returning Officer and Chief Executive of City of York Council, said it was 'so important' people had their say in the General Election and local by-elections in York.

"I would urge you to make your vote count and not lose this opportunity today," she told voters, adding that anyone unsure of where to find their nearest polling station should visit www.york.gov.uk/elections.

York Press:

Bob Towner, chairman of York Older People's Assembly, said older people understood that this country was proud of its democratic traditions - and one of those was voting.

"Women fought and died to get the vote, only granted to them in 1928," he said. "Keep up those traditions by voting today."

York College principal Dr Alison Birkinshaw said she had always been aware that being able to vote was a privilege and a right that was not enjoyed by every person across the globe.

"At York College, we encourage our students aged 18 and over to vote, and most importantly to use their vote wisely," she said. "I hope our students feel fully informed to vote for their preferred party when they go to the polls on Thursday.”

Sean Ledwith, A-Level Government Politics tutor at York College, said: “We strongly encourage students to be active citizens and to participate enthusiastically in the democratic process.

"The world they are growing up in is one that contains unprecedented economic, environmental and political challenges and it is crucial their generation helps shapes the solutions to these problems."

John Robinson, a Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of York, said the election was an important time for students to have their say on issues that would directly affect their lives and the future of the country.

“The University of York encourages all students to vote to ensure their voice is heard," he said.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has urged people to 'set aside apathy and cynicism,' and participate in the election - not least by making sure to vote.

He also said that in the midst of a frantic and sometimes fraught election campaign, Christians should pray for those standing and for those elected.

Weather forecasters expect heavy and persistent rain to hit York and North Yorkshire by late morning and early afternoon, which may reduce voter turnout.

Meanwhile, a council spokeswoman said that in York, 126 ballot boxes have gone out to a mix of schools, church halls and community centres, plus a couple of mobile polling stations, with a 1,008 pencils available.

She said there were also by-elections today in York council's Micklegate and Hull Road wards, with the verification and count process for them taking place alongside the Parliamentary election.

There would be two voting slips for people in those wards, but only one for EU citizens who could only vote in the ward election, with separate ballot boxes to the General Election.

The count and announcement would take place at Energise tonight, with the results to be announced in the early hours of tomorrow, between 4am and 6am, although these times were estimates and subject to change, she added.