Midlothian polling stations saw a steady stream of voters throughout the day as candidates were on hand to chat about everything from speeding traffic to congestion charges.
Despite one in four voters opting for a postal ballot this time around stations appeared busy with plenty of people still preferring to cast their vote in person.
Council leader Derek Milligan (Labour), who is defending his seat in Bonnyrigg was relaxed about the outcome in his own ward with four nominees standing for three seats.
READ MORE: Edinburgh council elections 2022 LIVE blog
Both he and incumbent SNP councillor Dianne Alexander are expected to hold their seats with newcomers Daya Feldwick (Greens) and David Virgo (Cons) vying for the third seat.
Mr Milligan, who has served the ward for a decade was appointed leader of Labour's minority administration in 2017.
Outside Lasswade Centre, with sunshine occasionally punctuating the grey drizzle, he cheerily greeted voters heading into the centre and listened to their concerns as they stopped to chat.
But he admits whoever takes control of Midlothian Council when the results come in faces a tough challenge.
He said: "Officials estimate we have a £37million funding gap in our budget and that is going to take tough decisions and will mean working together.
"It will be a tough challenge."
As well as funding issues, Midlothian residents have reacted with anger to proposals by City of Edinburgh Council to introduce congestion charges which would see people living in the county charged for driving into the city while Edinburgh residents could go back and forward for free.
More than 2,000 people have signed a petition protesting the plans which would see residents in Danderhall who want to go to their local B&Q charged for crossing the boundary.
Whether the plans will impact on voters in that ward remains to be seen.
Meanwhile the number of postal votes returned was estimated at 70% and rising today with people still able to hand them in at polling stations until 10pm.
The count starts at 9am on Friday at the Lasswade Centre, with results expected to be complete by 4pm.
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