Finally, it is time to select your region's Members of European Parliament (MEPs).
People across the UK will be heading to their nearest polling stations today (Thursday, May 23) to choose the party they want to represent them in Parliament.
MEPs pass laws in the European Parliament, and will not be involved in negotiations or talks about Brexit. But how we vote could send a strong message to the country's leaders.
The votes will be counted up using a proportional form of voting call D’Hondt. It allocates seats using a formula based on the percentage of the vote a party wins per region.
Why you should vote today
Reporter Sophie Jackson spoke to two voters at polling stations in Watford today.
Steve Carpenter, 57, a secondary school teacher said: “It is important to vote as it is our duty, a lot of people fought long and hard for freedom of speech, so it should be exercised. It is a chance to share our opinion otherwise democracy is not working.
“People may vote as a backlash to Brexit as fed up with it.
“Our choices have an important impact and we need to take a view, not give up!"
Elizabeth Timmons, from Watford (pictured below), said: “I am angry at people who do not vote, years ago people went through hardship for us to do so and we should feel privileged that we can.”
Who can I vote for in the East of England region?
There are seven MEP positions for the Eastern region. Your candidates are:
Change UK
Emma Taylor, Neil Carmichael, Bhavna Joshi, Michelle de Vries, Amanda Gummer, Thomas Graham, Roger Casale
Conservative and Unionist Party
Geoffrey Charles Van Orden, John Christopher Flack, Joe Rich, Thomas Rhys Hughes McLaren, Joel Ralph Charles, Wazz Mughal, Thomas Roger Smith
English Democrats
Robin Charles Tilbrook, Charles Jeremy Vickers, Bridget Lee Vickers, Paul Kevin Wiffen
Green Party
Catherine Rowett, Rupert Read, Martin Schmierer, Fiona Radic, Paul Jeater, Pallavi Devulapalli, Jeremy Caddick
Labour Party
Alex Mayer, Chris Vince, Sharon Taylor, Alvin Shum, Anna Smith, Adam Scott, Javeria Hussain
Liberal Democrats
Barbara Ann Gibson, Lucy Kathleen Nethsingha, Fionna Margaret Ruth Tod, Stephen John Robinson, Sandy Walkington, Marie Clare Goldman, Jules Ewart
The Brexit Party
Richard James Tice, Michael Eric Heaver, June Alison Mummery, Paul Joseph Hearn, Priscilla Mary Huby, Sean Robert John Lever, Edmund John Fordham
UKIP
Stuart John Agnew, Paul Oakley, Elizabeth Eirwen Jones, William Ashpole, Alan Graves, John Richard Wallace, John Whitby
Unaffiliated independent
Attila Csordas
(Croxley Green Baptist Church polling station)
- East of England Parties say why you should vote for them
- How you can vote tactically in the European Parliament election
Send us your polling station pictures
We're keen to see your polling station photos - even better if you have brought your dog!
If you'd like to submit a photo and/or tell us why you feel it's important to vote today, send an email to ann.yip@newsquest.co.uk.
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