YORK’S political leaders have appealed for the people of the city to use their voice in the election.

Voters will today decide who takes control of City of York Council and other local authorities across North and East Yorkshire for the next four years, as well as having their say in a referendum on a new system for electing MPs.

The councillors who win the 47 seats in 22 York wards will be revealed tomorrow, when results for Selby District Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hambleton District Council will also be announced. Ryedale District Council’s count takes place tonight.

Kersten England, chief executive at City of York Council, said: “Residents only get the chance to elect their local councillor every four years, so it’s crucial they seize the opportunity to have their say on how the city will be run.

“We’re very fortunate in the UK to be able to exercise the democratic right to elect our political leaders and would urge everybody who is eligible to use their vote.”

As of Tuesday, the authority had received about 10,000 postal votes for the elections and a similar number for the electoral reform referendum. York’s 93 polling stations are today opening until 10pm.

Andrew Waller, leader of York council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “A flourishing democracy helps to promote a harmonious city.

“Everybody benefits from the services the council provides and voting is part of civic engagement, which is stronger in York than much of the rest of the UK.”

Labour group leader James Alexander said: “At times it may seem irrelevant, but politics matters.

“Decisions taken by the council affect every resident of this great city, so everybody has an interest in voting. People need only look to other countries to see how life could be without the vote, so I encourage everybody eligible to have their say.”

Ian Gillies, who leads the council’s Conservative group, said: “It’s important for people to exercise their democratic right and have a part to play in the future of the city, because that gives the satisfaction of influencing the decisions politicians in York make.”

Green group leader Andy D’Agorne said the right to vote was something people in other countries had “fought and died for”, adding: “It’s something everybody should take very seriously, because it is about who they want to represent them.”