Election
2015: Millions begin casting their votes
Today 7th May, 2015
millions of people have begun casting their votes in the United Kingdom general
elections
Polls opened
at 07:00 BST at around 50,000 polling stations across the UK, which will remain
open until 22:00.
A total of
650 Westminster MPs will be elected, with about 50 million people registered to
vote.
As well as
the general election, there are more than 9,000 council seats being contested
across 279 English local authorities.
Mayors will
also be elected in Bedford, Copeland, Leicester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough and
Torbay.
UKIP leader
Nigel Farage, Labour leader Ed Miliband, Greens leader Natalie Bennett, SNP
leader Nicola Sturgeon, Conservative leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat
leader Nick Clegg and Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood have all cast their votes.
In Northern
Ireland DUP leader Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness in Northern
Ireland have voted, as have SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell, Alliance Party
leader David Ford and Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt.
Results declared
A total of 650
Westminster MPs will be elected, with about 50 million people registered to
vote.
The weather
has been dry and mild across much of the UK, with isolated showers in some
parts of the north of England.
The local
votes taking place mean that nearly every voter in England - excluding London
where there are no local elections - will have been given at least two ballot
papers when they enter polling stations.
Some votes
had been cast before Thursday through postal voting, which accounted for 15% of
the total electorate at the 2010 general election, when the overall turnout was
65%.
Most polling
stations are in schools, community centres and parish halls, but pubs, a
launderette and a school bus are also being used.
Coverage
Polls close
at 22:00 BST, but officials say anyone in a polling station queue at this time
should be able to cast their vote.
The BBC's
main election programme, fronted by David Dimbleby, starts at 21:55 BST, with
live coverage from 220 counts.
Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland will have their own overnight programmes but will
join Huw Edwards from 07:00 BST on 8 May.
On the radio,
a joint overnight broadcast by BBC Radio 4 and 5 live will be hosted by Jim
Naughtie and Carolyn Quinn.
Visit: http://www.bbc.com/
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