ELECTRONIC voting has been given the green light by Bolton Council despite some fears that the electorate could be overwhelmed by the new technology.

Councillors have officially backed the Government's proposal for the local authority to pilot a scheme in May using modern technology.

The initiative is part of a drive to get more people interested in local government after a worrying decline in voter turn-out.

However, Cllr Roger Hayes suggested that while electronic voting is a welcome scheme, it will not increase voter turn-out.

He said: "The Government is trying to increase voter turn-out, but surely more people will vote if there are less gimmicks and spin and more power given back to local democracy.

"Lots of people still feel the old-fashioned way of putting a cross on a piece of paper works well enough."

Councillors voted for the scheme to be introduced on the condition that the council would not face the extra cost.

The "e-voting" launch could soon be followed by Internet, e-mail and telephone voting.

All of the town's 140 polling stations will use an electronic machine for people to cast their choices.