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What time can I vote in the election today, and when will we know the results?

General election polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm tomorrow. - PA
General election polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm tomorrow. - PA

Voting day in the December general election is today, Thursday Dec 12, which comes six weeks after the chaotic Brexit negotiations in Westminster led MPs to back Boris Johnson's call for a vote on Oct 29.

Since Parliament was officially dissolved on Nov 6, the UK political parties have been preparing for the upcoming election, with candidates promoting their campaigns, pledges and promises across the country.

When is the general election?

The UK general election is set to take place on Dec 12. While most of us wouldn't typically associate the final month of the year with political votes, back in the early 20th century, three general elections took place in December 1910, 1918 and 1923.

What time do polling stations open and close?

Voting centres will operate today from 7am until 10pm.

How do I vote in the general election?

Firstly, you need to be registered to vote, which is done via the GOV.UK website. The deadline to register was midnight on Tuesday Nov 26. If you missed the deadline, you will not be able to vote in this year's general election.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote was 5pm on Nov 26. If you are registered to vote by post, your Electoral Office must receive it by 10pm on Dec 12.

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote, where someone to votes on your behalf, was 5pm on Dec 4. You can still apply for an emergency proxy vote.

Head here for more information on postal votes and proxy votes.

To cast your vote in person, simply head to the local voting centre listed on your polling card.

Who are the candidates standing in my constituency?

To find out who is running for the election in your local area, visit the Who Can I Vote For? website.

Who should I vote for?

For a breakdown on what each party has pledged to do on issues including tax, the environment, work, education and healthcare, head to our manifesto summary here.

Tactical voting has become a big talking point in this election. If you're unsure who to vote for, try our interactive tool to get a clearer idea of whether voting tactically could affect your constituency.

What do the latest polls say?

This year the polls have been extremely volatile, with three different parties having taken the lead at some point.

You can stay up to date with the Telegraph's general election odds and poll tracker here.

Which MPs might lose their seats?

Wondering which seats to watch on election night? Veteran psephologist Sir John Curtice sets out the MPs who might lose their seats at this election, including Dominic Grieve and Chuka Umunna.

For an in-depth look at where each party might lose and gain seats, you can read our analysis of the marginal seats across the country here.

Why did Boris Johnson call a general election?

The Prime Minister wants a general election because he feels a new Parliament is needed in order to break the political impasse over Brexit and hopes going to the polls will secure him a working majority. With Mr Johnson presenting himself as the politician who can “get Brexit done”, he hopes to be more popular with leave voters who see Labour and the Liberal Democrats as offering another delay to Brexit.

How will this general election affect Brexit?

When Theresa May called a snap election in 2017 it cost her her majority and saw the Tories join forces with the DUP in a confidence-and-supply agreement.

Boris Johnson seems to be confident that by calling an election he can win back a Tory majority and successfully get his Brexit deal over the line due to the support he has around him.

You can read more about what each party has said about their Brexit policy here.

When will the exit poll be released?

Based on interviews with voters outside of polling stations, exit polls predict the results of general elections. Unlike opinion polls, which ask voters who they intend to vote for, exit polls ask people who they actually voted for.

Exit polls are normally announced at 10pm on election day, immediately after the polling stations close and before the official results are announced by constituencies across the country.

Like previous elections, the 2019 exit poll will be announced at 10pm by Huw Edwards.

When will we know the results, and how can I watch them live?

After polling stations close at 10pm, the votes will be counted in two stages. This process typically ends around 2am, with the winner to be announced shortly after, in the early hours of the morning.

BBC, ITV, Sky News and Channel 4 have all confirmed they will be reporting the general election on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Each broadcaster will launch their programme just before the polls close at 10pm, continuing throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning as the results are announced.

You can find more information on our guide to election night here.