The elections take place on 21 April

A total of 82 nominations have been received for the elections in seven districts, which are due to take place on 21 April.

All completed forms for nominees had to be returned to the Bailiff's Office by 1600 GMT on Friday.

People wishing to place a postal vote have until 1200 GMT on 16 April to register their wish to do so.

'Democratic right'

The figures of 82 nominees beats the number of contenders in the 2000 election by 12.

Seven seats will be contested in the Vale, Castel and St Peter Port North, with 10, 10 and 15 candidates put forward so far in those respective parishes.

In St Sampson, 11 people will fight it out for six places, while 11 candidates are contesting six seats in St Peter Port South.

The most competitive districts could prove to be in the South East, with St Martins and St Andrews, and the West, which includes St Peters, St Saviours, the Forest and Torteval.

In those two districts the number of candidates, 13 in the South East and 12 in the West, is about double the number of seats available in each ward.

The next stage will see ballot papers prepared. A series of hustings will be held in the run up to polling day.

David Robilliard, the Deputy Registrar General of Electors, said he hoped residents would cast their vote.

He said: "This is the one opportunity in four years that people can really exercise their democratic right.

"Being on the electoral roll is just the instrument to voting, but it's not the voting itself. People need to turn out."