The big day for councillors looking to retain their power and opponents seeking a way into the limelight arrived earlier this week.
Many of us rushed to the polling stations on Thursday to back those we feel are best placed to tackle the big issues in our community.
As a result, we have dipped into our photo archives to rediscover some eye-catching shots of local and parliamentary elections from years gone by.
Among them are snaps of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill taking to the streets of Essex and receiving a warm reception, while Eddie Izzard backed South Basildon & East Thurrock’s Labour candidate Mike Le Surf six years ago.
Nigel Farage headed to south Essex in a bid to accumulate votes and some candidates got creative with their posters as they hoped to win support.
Scroll down to see some election days of the past in south Essex.
Gordon Brown visited the Pitsea Leisure Centre to support MP Angela Smith in 2007
Back in the day - then-Prime Minister Tony Blair sits down for a chat with Echo reporter Lea Fountain in 2003
Wanting support - Jeremy Hunt headed to Canvey
Eye-catching - a poster for New Labour in 1994
Having his say - Nigel Farage launching Ukip's election bid at Canvey's Movie Starr Cinema seven years ago
Read more:
- IN PICTURES: Leading politicians to have headed to south Essex over the years
- What Pitsea's Wat Tyler Country Park looked like in the 1990s
Seeking candidates - Carole Mulroney, Jane Ward and Valerie Morgan (left to right) created this poster in a bid to find potential councillors for Leigh Town Council in 2014
Fun - Colin Letchford won the Canvey East by-election in 2014 after campaigning with a dog cutout-style poster
United - English Democrats launch their EU election campaign at the Fobbing peasants revolt gate in 2014
Former Prime Minister - Winston Churchill in Essex on election day 1950
Famous face - Eddie Izzard, taking a selfie with Basildon resident Kirsty Pigrum, urges residents to vote for Mike Le Surf in the elections held in 2015
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