THE BALLOT Box chief is urging voters to turn out in their droves to show they care about making a difference to life in their communities.

Lorraine McMillan, council chief executive and East Renfrewshire returning officer, says despite council turnouts being lower than Scottish Parliament or General elections, the result of this Thursday's poll will probably have a greater effect on people's day-to-day lives.

She's reminding residents that votes will decide who gets the power to run vital council services such as schools, hospitals, social work, roads, refuse collection, sports and leisure facilities, parks, libraries and economic regeneration.

The voters of Barrhead and the rest of East Renfrewshire will decide who is in charge of the council's multi-million pound budget.

Candidates standing in the Barrhead Ward and the Neilston, Uplawmoor and Newton Mearns North Wards will be looking to pick enough votes to take a seat in this high powered job.

Lorraine and her team have printed approximately 70,000 ballot papers, issued over 13,000 postal ballot packs and will train 160 polling station staff to ensure that all registered voters can have their say.

Lorraine (right) said: "This year we are voting with numbers instead of using an X. It's important to take the time to read the ballot paper instructions carefully so you can be sure you have completed your ballot paper properly. The council elections are your opportunity to shape the council and the services you receive over the coming years. I would urge all voters to use your vote on Thursday and make sure you have your say in these important council elections." Election officials are also reminding voters that they will need to make their preferences on ballot papers using numbers and not an 'X'.

The council elections use a form of voting called Single Transferable Vote where voters use numbers to rank candidates in order of preference. So you would mark a '1' beside your favourite candidate, a '2' by the second choice, a '3' by the third choice and so on.

Polling stations for the Barrhead Ward are at Auchenback Resource Centre, Aurs Drive; Carlibar Primary School, Carlibar Road; Cross Arthurlie Primary School, Fern Drive; and Dalmey Community Centre, Barnes Street.

Voters in the Neilston, Uplawmoor and Newton Mearns North Ward can vote at Mure Hall, Tannoch Road, Uplawmoor; Neilston Primary School, High Street, Neilston; Fairweather Hall, Barrhead Road; Crookfur Primary School, Capelrig Road; and St Cadoc's Primary School, all in Newton Mearns. All polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.