There is a by-election in Ipswich today, the first of the current Parliament and the first test of the new Conservative leadership. But unfortunately for the candidates there could be a bigger turn-out for Ipswich Town's glamorous UEFA cup fixture against Inter Milan than for the polling booths.
The Suffolk seat has an electorate of 68,000; the anticipated crowd for the soccer fixture is 33,000. And, to make matters even more difficult for the candidates the match will be broadcast live by the BBC.
The by-election was forced by the death of the Labour MP, Mr Jamie Cann, who had a majority of 8,081 and was popular in the town.
But unless the candidates can overturn apathy among voters, the by-election could become famous for all the wrong reasons - especially if the turn-out falls below the record low of 19.1 per cent in Leeds Central in 1999.
The Conservative candidate, a property developer and businessman, Mr Paul West (32), will be hoping his party's focus on public services, rather than the anti-euro message which alienated voters in the June general election, will win him enough votes to secure the constituency.
Labour activists in Ipswich ignored strong hints from party headquarters and picked the leader of Suffolk County Council, Mr Chris Mole (43), as their candidate from a largely female shortlist.
A lifelong Suffolk resident, Mr Mole must be confident the Prime Minister's successful handling of the war in Afghanistan will rub off on voters.
He has told constituents that if he is elected he will continue in the same approachable style adopted by Mr Cann.
"People were enormously thank -ful to Jamie Cann for the work he did and I think people see me as someone who, if I can do half as good a job, will do a good job for Ipswich," he said.
Ms Tessa Munt, the Liberal Democrat candidate, criticised the "indecent haste" of holding the by-election a month after Mr Cann's death.
Ms Munt, who lives in Sudbury, Suffolk, and has worked for the Childline charity. She wants the electorate to "send a fairly clear message" to Labour that it has failed to deliver a successful health service and has failed pensioners.
In total, nine candidates will contest the seat. For the first time at a parliamentary election, count election officials will use live computer images, club music and lasers to enliven the evening.
PA adds: Mr Blair last night stood accused of being a poor speller after he penned a note to Labour's candidate misspelling the word "tomorrow". The handwritten note three times spelled the word "toomorrow".