TODAY thousands of people across the Cotswolds and north Wiltshire will be making their vote count as hundreds of polling stations open their doors on election day.

By 4am tomorrow morning we will know who will be fighting both the Cotswolds and the north Wiltshire corner in Westminster for the next five years.

Will you be making your vote count today?

The Standard will be covering the count from start to finish on its website tonight, with a live blog and tweets all the way throughout the night.

Join in with the debate on Twitter using hashtags #Cotswolds2015 and #NorthWilts2015 and follow our twitter account @WiltsAndGlosStd

Not sure whether you should vote today? Here are five reasons why you SHOULD:

1) It's quick and very easy

Voting takes 10 minutes and it can be done anytime 7am and 10pm, and a general election only comes round every five years. Plus your polling station will be as close to your home as possible, so it really couldn't be any easier!

2) Millions around the world would love to be able to vote - and you can

Thousands across the world have died for the right to vote. Women have marched and protested. Black people were denied the right to vote in South Africa until 1994. In areas across the world right now people are still fighting for democracy,

3) If you don't vote, you can't complain

If you don’t vote your interests will be ignored. It is thought that due to such a large group of young people not voting, they have received a raw deal from politicians  - such as the rise in tuition fees.

4) Keep the government on its toes

Your right to vote keeps our politicians on their toes - if you didn't vote, would they care what you think?

5) Every decision made after this election will affect your life

Elections only come around every five years. Whoever is voted into power could change the course of your life, and your children's lives. If you want something to change, vote today.

Read more about our local candidates below:

Cotswolds

- Geoffrey Clifton-Brown - Conservative
- Paul Hodgkinson - Lib Dem
- Manjinder Kang - Labour
- Penny Burgess - Green
- Chris Harlow - UKIP

North Wilts

- James Gray - Conservative
- Brian Mathew - Lib Dem
- Giles Wareham - Independent
- Peter Baldrey - Labour
- Phil Chamberlain - Green
- Pat Bryant - UKIP
- Simon Killane - Independent
 

Who are you voting for and why? Leave a comment below.