Election Day has arrived.

Citizens will today decide who governs for the next five years.

Five exhausting weeks of politicking since the date was announced by Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

The country saw an advertising blitz unrivalled in the history of local elections.

And it has come down to three choices.

The People's National Movement (PNM) wants a third consecutive term in office.

The United National Congress Alliance (UNC-Alliance) wants to govern.

The Congress of the People (COP)-the political newborn-is asking for a chance.

Patrick Manning leads the incumbent PNM.

Jack Warner and Basdeo Panday share leadership of the UNC Alliance.

Winston Dookeran is the lone political leader of the COP.

The PNM and COP are fielding candidates in all 41 constituencies while the UNC-A has contenders in 39.

In Tobago, the UNC-A has no candidates for the two seats but there is still a three-way fight between the PNM, COP, and an alliance of the Tobago United Force and Democratic Action Congress.

Five new seats are up for grabs, an increase from the 36 constituencies fought since the 1966 election.

There are 2,042 polling stations this election, an increase of 311 over the 2002 poll.

More people are eligible to vote this year that ever before-about 990,000 potential voters.

The Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) believes the voter turnout will be higher than the three previous elections, called three years apart between 2000-2002.

In 1995, when the UNC won, the turnout was 63.1 per cent.

In 2000, when the UNC won, the turnout was 63.05 per cent.

In 2001, 561,179 electors cast their ballots, 65.8 per cent, in an 18-18 electoral deadline broken by a presidential decision that gave the government to the PNM.

In 2002, the PNM won when a record 70 per cent cast their ballots.

Several hundred voters cast their ballots last week- police officers, hospital patients, offshore workers and  EBC staff.

When the last general election was called, a cell phone was still a luxury for the rich.

Now almost everyone owns at least one, and the EBC has a big headache.

The Commission doesn't want anyone going into the voting booth to record images of ballots being cast. 

Voters will be asked to leave their phones in a receptacle before  they do their civic duty.

It matters not which colour clothing you wear to the polling station today, EBC officials say.

Just no logos promoting your party of choice. The polling station's presiding officer has the power to call on the police officers on duty to remove anyone if there is trouble.

And there will be a cleared marked area 100-yard limit, inside of which you cannot canvass for your beloved candidate.

TTPost said it delivered polling cards to the 95 per cent of the country where there is mail service.

The EBC employed people to reach most of the remaining electors.

If you did not get a polling card, you should go to the polling station in your area and check to see if you are registered.

And for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., all businesses selling alcohol will be closed.

So far things are really close by midnight there should be a winner........WHO WILL IT BE?

PNM,COP,UNCA.....stay tuned..