As voting in the 2006 General Election passes the half-way stage, polling stations are reporting a steady flow of electors.

For the first time polls opened at 8am and many people seem to have taken advantage of the opportunity to vote on the way to work.

Up to 50,000 are eligible to make their mark, and there are 54 candidates for 23 available seats.

There has been concern over a significant reduction in the number of names on the electorial register.

The Government's Economic Advisor, Steven Carse (pictured), has fielded a number of calls from voters who've found they're not on the list.

However he feels things are running smoothly: