TODAY is the day that Swindon goes to the polls and the early signs indicate that alternative voting methods have banished voter apathy.

Traditionalists have been able to visit polling stations across the borough to mark an "X" beside their preferred candidate since 8am, but this year, innovative forms of e-voting have been capturing the imagination of voters.

People have been able to vote via the internet, interactive TV, telephone and I+ kiosks around the town. And while the internet has been by far the most popular, 11,055 people have taken advantage of these alternative methods.

Last year, just 6,321 used e-voting methods when Swindon was the country's biggest alternative voting guinea pig.

Swindon Council's deputy returning officer, Alan Winchcombe, said: "We're hoping that by offering electors a variety of convenient voting methods apathy will become a thing of the past.

"What we don't yet know is how many of the people who voted electronically would have otherwise stayed at home, but we'll have a better idea tonight.

"People now live and work in a different world and certainly don't work from 8am to 5pm so what we've got to do is make voting more convenient."

Last year, 31.2 per cent of Swindon's 180,000 population turned out to vote, but civic chiefs this week welcomed representatives from the Australian Election Commission who are interested in adopting e-voting.

The delegates, who visited the town last year, came to look at how the scheme had been taken up. Voting is compulsory in Australia where the country has a 92 per cent turnout in elections.

Today's elections will see 20 of Swindon Council's 59 seats contested and there is all to play for.

The Labour group currently holds power in a minority administration with 28 seats, the Conservatives have 23 and Liberal Democrats eight.

Several wards have a fourth candidate to choose from. The UK Independence Party is standing in Moredon and Western, the Green Party in Old Town, UK People Before Profit in Central, and the Socialist Alliance in Penhill.

Votes can be cast up until 9pm. For more information you can visit www.Swindon.gov.uk