Millions head to polls in UK's first July election dince 1945

July 4, 2024

Millions of UK voters are participating in the first July general election since 1945.

Polling stations, located in places such as schools and community halls, are open from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on Thursday.

About 46 million voters will elect 650 members of Parliament to the House of Commons.

The Tory leader continued his campaigning against a Labour 'socialist supermajority' with a series of overnight social media posts right up until polls opening — **The Tory leader continued his campaigning against a Labour ‘socialist supermajority’ with a series of overnight social media posts right up until polls opening**

***Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London***

The Labour leader urged Britons to 'vote change' today as he eyes up returning his party to power for the first time in 14 years — ***The Labour leader urged Britons to ‘vote change’ today as he eyes up returning his party to power for the first time in 14 years***

***The PM has repeatedly warned about Sir Keir hiking taxes should he enter power and claimed Labour will raid workers, savers, homeowners, pensioners and drivers***

Sir Keir has admitted his and Victoria's teenage children are 'worried' about the prospect of moving into Downing Street — ***Sir Keir has admitted his and Victoria’s teenage children are ‘worried’ about the prospect of moving into Downing Street***

The results will be announced overnight and into Friday morning.

Political parties are looking to win more than half the seats, 326, in order to form a majority government.

The election, called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May, is taking place under new constituency boundaries following a scheduled review to take account of changes in population.

ALSO READ: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to sell nearly $5 billion in shares following record stock surge

The new boundaries, based on voter registration figures, have seen England receive an additional 10 MPs, taking its total seats to 543.

The number of seats in Wales has dropped by eight to 32 seats, with the total for Scotland falling from 59 to 57. Northern Ireland stays the same with 18.

Anyone aged 18 or over can vote, as long as they are registered and a British citizen or qualifying citizen of the Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland. Registration closed on 18 June.

Following a legal change in 2022, an estimated two million British citizens who have been living abroad for more than 15 years were able to register to vote.

Photo ID

This is also the first general election at which voters in England, Wales and Scotland will have to show photo ID to vote in person.

There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licences, older or Disabled Person’s bus passes, and Oyster 60+ cards.

There are nine valid forms of ID to vote in Northern Ireland, where voters have had to show photo ID since 2003.

Alternatively, those registered to vote without the correct ID were able to apply for a free document called a voter authority certificate.

Voters in England, Scotland and Wales whose ID is lost or stolen after the deadline can apply for an emergency proxy vote, up until 17:00 on polling day, to allow another registered voter to cast a vote on their behalf.

Many people will have already voted for their favoured candidate in their constituency by voting by post.

Those who applied for a postal vote but have yet to return it can hand it into their local polling station by the close of polls at 22.00 BST.

The BBC said alternatively, they may also be able to hand it in to their local council office during office hours.