TODAY is decision day for everyone who wants to vote in the Inverclyde Council elections.

An extra two seats have been added as well as a new ward, so you now have the chance to elect 22 councillors to run the authority.

Forty-six hopefuls have put themselves forward for the privilege of representing you. 

Inevitably, more than half will be disappointed with the outcome, and left wondering what else they could have done to secure a berth on the council and the opportunity to influence many crucial decisions.

We could be on the verge of the SNP taking control of Inverclyde for the first time. 

They are fielding 12 candidates, the most of any party, so need all of them to get in to secure a majority on their own.
Labour, who ran the last council as a minority administration, have only nine contenders. 

They have been playing down their chances of retaining control and, obviously, have no chance of doing so unless they team up with another party or some of the 10 independents.

Today all of the candidates will be out making their final pitches to the voters as election fever builds up to tomorrow’s count.

Some people may take the cynical view that “they’re all the same, so why should we bother going out to vote?”
But you should do your best to exercise your democratic right to choose your councillors.
You can’t moan about the result if you don’t!