UK Election 2015 - Millions Begin Casting Their Votes

Millions of people have begun casting their votes in the United Kingdom general election. 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 and Conservative leader David Cameron have already cast their votes.
Results declared

The local votes taking place mean that nearly every voter in England - excluding London where there are no local elections - will be 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%. As well as Westminster, elections will be held for 9,000 council seats across England Ballot boxes have been sent to polling stations ahead of the count... Ballot boxes were shipped to all parts of the UK, including Rathlin Island, off the north-east coast of Northern Ireland

For the first time, people have been able to register to vote online.

Most polling stations are in schools, community centres and parish halls, but pubs, a launderette and a school bus will also be used.

A handful of seats are expected to be declared by midnight, with the final results expected on Friday afternoon. (BBC)