COUNCIL officials in Hartlepool are urging residents to follow the guidelines carefully before voting in next month's elections.

On Thursday May 2, there will be two elections in Hartlepool - local elections for councillors and an election for mayor.

In the election for a directly-elected mayor there are five candidates and people have the chance to vote for two if they want.

If one candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the first choice votes, he will automatically be the winner.

However, if no candidate gets more than 50 per cent, then only the two candidates with the highest number of first choice votes will remain in the contest. The other three will be eliminated.

To decide the winner in these circumstances, any second-choice votes for the remaining two candidates, will be added on to their tally.

The candidate with the highest number of first and second choice votes combined will be the winner.

But in the local elections, residents can only vote for one candidate. Elections for councillors are taking place in 16 of the 17 wards in Hartlepool.

There is no election in the Greatham ward this year.

A leaflet is being circulated to all households in Hartlepool starting this weekend, which gives details of the voting system for a directly elected mayor as well as information about the candidates.

Anyone who does not receive a copy of the leaflet can get hold of one by contacting (01429) 523016.