THIS year's borough and parish council elections take place on Thursday, May 1, and Chorley's electors have more ways than ever to vote.

Once again the council is taking part in pilot voting schemes after the runaway success of the full postal ballot in 2002 when the town recorded the highest turnout in the country of 61.5 per cent.

Councillors are hoping for another record turnout as Chorley voters have a range of high-tech ways to cast their vote at their fingertips.

This year, people will be able to vote in three ways -- by post, the internet or by touch-tone telephone.

Electors can register their selection any time before May 1 at 9pm and you should already have received your voting pack through the post.

Chorley is one of only four local authorities in the country to offer the electorate these methods of voting and it means that once again there will be no polling stations.

Martin O'Loughlin, Head of Administrative Services, said: "Chorley is once again at the forefront of innovation.

"We are attempting to provide something to suit everyone as far as voting methods are concerned.

And worries about security are being played down by Mr O'Loughlin. He said: "The paper ballots contain a unique bar code which only allows the paper to be received once.

"The internet and touchtone telephone database has been rigorously tested for security measures against infiltration into the system." The council has mounted a huge thermometer on the side of the town hall which will let locals know when the votes start flooding in.

At present, Chorley has a hung borough council. The Labour party has 22 seats, the Conservatives 16 and the Liberal Democrats have six. Independent councillors holds three seats.