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Voting is easy.

But it is also easy to be nervous if you're new to it.

There is lots of interest amongst people for whom the 2010 General Election will be the first chance to vote.

But when you've not done it before, uncertainty about the nuts and bolts can be a put-off: How you make sure you're registered to vote, for example. And exactly what happens in the polling station too.

To help first-time voters, and anyone else who's not quite sure what happens, here is a simple, impartial Electoral Commission guide on what to do to ensure you can make your voice heard on election day.

Dan Norris

Go to the guide here

Register to vote here

"If you don't register and vote and make a difference … you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself.

"We sign up for MySpace pages and Facebook pages, and download music off the internet. The least people can do is register to vote online, actually making a difference in their world, not just making their lives a little bit cooler."

Jessica Alba