In Dundee West the postal votes returned by yesterday had reached 8207, from an electorate of 65,857.

The share of postal votes in the two constituencies was almost identical — 12.45% in East and 12.46% in West.

Following a busy start, voting had clearly slowed in the city by mid-morning as the General Election moved from the hustings to the ballot box. After the early activity — party workers were reluctant to call it a “surge” — at some polling stations across the city, the numbers of voters reduced to little more than a trickle.

Even the parties’ faithful charged with making the final pleadings on behalf of their respective candidates had deserted the gates of some of the polling stations, clearly with the intention of girding their loins for a hoped-for surge in voters later in the day.

Polling centres across the country remain open until 10pm, with the first results expected to be declared less than two hours later.

Some pollsters have predicted the turnout nationwide could be lower than the 2001 General Election.

After what is seen as one of the dullest General Election campaigns for many years, there is concern the big “winner” today will be apathy, with disenchanted or disinterested voters staying away in droves.

At least in Dundee the city has thrown up one of the more interesting election battles. The final result in Dundee East could be a close run thing between Labour and the SNP.

Supporters of both parties have been canvassing hard over the past few weeks and both parties have been voicing confidence that they will win.

In Dundee West — where long-standing MP Ernie Ross has not sought re-election — there have also been predictions that the final vote could produce a close result.

Seven candidates are contesting Dundee East — David Allison (Ind), Christopher Bustin (Con), Harvey Duke (SSP), Stewart Hosie (SNP), Randolph Low (UKIP), Iain Luke (Lab), and Clive Sneddon (LibDems).

In Dundee West there are five candidates — Joe FitzPatrick (SNP), Nykoma Garry (LibDems), James McFarlane (SSP), James McGovern (Lab), and Christopher McKinlay (Con).

The count takes place tonight at the DISC complex off Mains Loan and the results are not expected to be declared until the early hours.

* The voting in Kirkcaldy this morning appeared to be matching the weather — brisk!

As a stiff westerly breeze swept the town, there was a healthy turnout of voters at some central polling stations.

Party workers said the Philp Hall in Links Street had been very busy, while voting at Abbotshall Church Hall was also described as ”good.”

Things were a bit quieter at Carlyle Hall in St Brycedale Road, but even there a fair number of people turned up throughout the morning.

* In Cupar There was no sign of voter apathy as queues formed at polling stations at 7am.

Several voters were waiting outside St John’s Church for the doors to open.

Jerry Higgins, an officer on duty in the hall said there had been a surprisingly high turnout this morning.

At the Corn Exchange, where the count for North East Fife takes place tonight, there had also been impressive numbers of voters.

* The election was starting to gather pace in West Fife villages and there was a steady trickle of voters at polling stations in Newmills, Oakley and Cairneyhill.

By mid-morning, over 20% of Culross residents had voted. Just under 10% voted by post, with the other 10% turning up early to mark their ballot papers at the polling station in Culross Primary School.

There was little sign of active campaigning at polling stations however.

Labour polling agent Thomas Douglas said the good weather forecast should make sure Rachel Squire kept her seat in the Dunfermline and West Fife constituency.

* A steady trickle of voters made their way to Arbroath polling stations.

Voters in Carnoustie were casting their votes for the first time in the new Dundee East seat.

* Voters started off at a trickle rather than a steady flow at polling stations in and around the Forfar area.

Numbers were expected to build throughout the day, with the period into the early evening traditionally one of the busier spells at schools and village halls.

“Hopefully the weather will stay fine into the evening to avoid anyone staying at home just because they can’t be bothered going out,” said one campaigner at Forfar’s Chapelpark primary polling station.

* An Angus Council spokeswoman said today voting had been “pretty steady” since the polling stations in Montrose and Brechin opened at 7am.

“At 10am the message was that it was pretty quiet but we would expect that to pick up during the day,” she said.

* The first-ever election for the new Perth and Perthshire constituency saw slow but steady voting at polling stations across the county today.

Presiding officers were reporting an average-to-low turnout, but expecting an evening rush.

The varied nature of Perthshire, with both urban and rural areas, appeared to be making little difference, although urban numbers were lagging slightly.

Among the more unusual venues, alongside the village halls and schools, was a hall at the Upper Springland complex run by Capability Scotland. The polling station catered for many of the charity’s special needs clients.

* Candidates for Perth and North Perthshire turned out early, with Pete Wishart, the MP for North Tayside, under the previous boundaries, voting in Dunkeld.

The next-door election is for the new Ochil and South Perthshire seat, where the majority of the electorate are in the Clackmannanshire Council area. Perthshire’s contrib-ution to the seat is mainly from Strathearn towns such as Crieff, Comrie and Auchterarder, while Kinross-shire is also included.