ON May 5, you'll have the chance to vote for who you want to be the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset.

Today, the candidates taking part in the election have all been announced.

For Somerset and Avon they are:

Kerry Barker, Labour Party:
Kerry is Labour's candidate for the election and has served as a barrister for 25 years.

He specialises in criminal law, and says his main priority is to "speak to residents" and protect vulnerable people.

Chris Briton, Green Party:
Chris is the Green Party's candidate for the role.

A former Mayor of Wells City Council, he said he wants to give young people a voice, and that his first priority would be improving how the force protects children and young people from phsyical and sexual harm. 

Paul Crossley, Liberal Democrats:

Paul is the Liberal Democrat's candidate for the election.

He is a former leader of Bath and North East Council and has laid out five priorty areas he would work on if he was elected, including working closer with councils, and increasing the use of restorative justice.

Aaron Warren Foot, UK Independence Party (UKIP):

Aaron Warren Foot has been put forward as the candidate for UKIP.

He is a farmer and businessman and said he wants to ensure that rural areas of Avon and Somerset aren't forgotten about if he gets elected.

Sue Mountstevens, Independent

Sue is the current Independent PCC for Avon and Somerset after she was elected in 2012.

She is keen to focus on victims of crime, and to keep policing independent from politics.

Kevin Stewart Phillips, Independent:
Also standing as an Independent candidate is Kevin Stewart Phillips.

Kevin is a recently retired police officer who has also served as chairman of the Avon and Somerset Police Federation.

He says he wants to campaign to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system and refocus the needs of neighbourhood policing.

Mark Weston, The Conservative Party Candidate:

Mark is standing for the Conservative Party for the election.

He is the current leader of the Conservative Group on Bristol City Council.

He also has experience of policing matters as a member of the Police and Crime panel in Bristol and says he would like to put the community at the heart of policing. 

Find out more about the candidates on the Avon and Somerset PCC Election 2016 website.

You can vote at the election if you are registered to vote, are 18 or over on 5 May 2016 and are a British citizen, a European Union citizen or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

Poll cards with details of the PCC election and the location of polling stations will be posted to registered electors during April.

If you are not yet registered at your current address, you can do it online at www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk/register-to-vote.

Those who would prefer to register using a paper form, can download a registration form from the online registration site or alternatively can request one by calling Electoral Services on 01984 635276.

The deadline to register to vote in time for the PCC election is midnight on Monday April 18.

If you can’t go to the polling station on Thursday May 5, if you have registered by April 18 you can apply to vote by post or you can appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf.

The deadline for postal vote applications is on 5pm on Tuesday April 19, while the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on Tuesday April 26.

Dr Jo Farrar, the Avon and Somerset Police Area Returning Officer, said: “Time is running out to make sure you can take part in these elections, so I’d encourage everyone across the Avon and Somerset Police Area to register now if you have not done so already.

"Our message is simple: you can’t vote, if you are not registered by the April 18 deadline. "

Registering now for the elections in May will also mean voters are registered in good time before the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union on Thursday June 23.