SWINDON goes to the polls for the second time in a month tomorrow to cast votes for the European elections.

These elections typically receive lower turnouts than local and general elections but this time could be different as Brexit has put the UK’s relationship with the EU under the spotlight and led to numerous heated debates about its future.

Confused about what each party stands for, or why these elections are even being held with Brexit on the horizon? This double-page feature has all you need to know – but first, a quick summary of how we got here.

The 2016 referendum results revealed that Britain voted to leave the EU but the deal Theresa May and the Conservative Party managed to negotiate with Brussels proved to be so unpopular in the House of Commons that it was defeated three times. Parliament struggled to agree on what sort of exit deal all parties would accept while at the same time agreeing that they did not want to crash out of the union with no deal at all.

MPs asked for two extensions to the Brexit deadline which has left the UK eligible to take part in the first European elections since 2014 and led to each political party hurriedly organising campaigns and doorstepping voters around the country. Rather than voting for specific candidates, voters pick a preferred party and a complicated formula known as the d’Hont system calculates the proportion of seats that each party should be allocated in the UK’s 12 constituencies.

So, if Party A are allocated two seats and Party B eight, the top two and eight candidates on each list are respectively elected.

This proportional system tends to allow smaller parties a greater number of seats than the ‘first past the post’ system used for Westminster elections.

The Brexit Party has taken the unusual step of not releasing a manifesto of its policies before election day but has stressed a commitment to carrying out a no-deal Brexit.

Fellow newcomers Change UK (The Independent Group) want a second referendum to be held and support Britain staying in the EU.

The Conservative Party are campaigning for the Prime Minister's deal to go ahead and to leave the EU/

The Green Party is pro-freedom of movement in Europe, pro-remain, pro-second referendum, and wants to tackle the climate crisis.

The Labour Party backs and early election to give it the chance to negotiate its own deal with Europe, and has not ruled out the possibility of a second referendum.

Liberal Democrats are rallying to stop Brexit altogether.

The UK Independence Party advocates a hard no-deal Breit similar to the one supported by the Brexit Party.

Everyone who registered to vote before the deadline earlier this month should have received a poll card which lets them know which polling station to visit tomorrow. Voters do not have to bring the polling card with them and just need to give their name and address when they visit the polling station, which will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Other countries cast their ballots later this week so the results will not be known until the last polling station in the continent closes on Sunday night. Once elected, members take their seats on July 2.

If you’ve not received your polling card but you know you have registered, give Swindon Borough Council a call to check on 01793 445500.