Eighty-two candidates were standing for 45 seats in parliament

Eighty-two candidates were standing on Wednesday in what was billed as the island's most important election since World War II.

The majority of polling stations opened at 1000 BST, but voters in St Peter Port took advantage of early opening at 0800 BST.

The first declarations were expected in the evening.

Those elected will represent seven districts in a slimmed-down parliament which sees more than 40 committees replaced by only 10 departments.

Seven seats were being contested in the Vale, Castel and St Peter Port North parishes.

In St Sampson and St Peter Port South, 11 candidates were contesting six seats.

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.

A record number of people have chosen to vote by post.

In the 2000 election, 662 postal votes were issued. This time the number rose to more than 1,500.