The general election is the first since the UK’s formal exit from the European Union, writes Euronews.

Polling stations in 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland opened at 7am local time on Thursday morning, in the first UK general election since the country’s formal exit from the European Union. Voting is set to continue until 10pm local time, when a first estimate of results based on exit polls is published.

Results will then roll in overnight, with most local constituencies expected to announce their winning candidates in the early hours of the morning.

Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to vote in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire, while Labour leader Keir Starmer will cast his ballot in his London seat of Holborn and St Pancras.

It is the first vote since constituency borders were redrawn in 2023. That review saw England gain ten seats, while Scotland and Wales lost two and eight seats respectively. There were no change to Northern Irish seat numbers. It is also the first general election where voters must remember to bring photo ID to be able to cast a ballot. Back in May, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was turned away from a voting station in local council elections after forgetting the new rule.

Many have already voted by post, despite reports some voters had not received their ballot papers by post on the eve of Election Day.