Millions of voters are heading to the polls for the UK’s first July general election since 1945. Polling stations, located in places like local schools and community halls, will be open from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on Thursday. Approximately 46 million eligible voters will elect 650 members of Parliament to the House of Commons, with results being announced through the night into Friday morning.

The election was called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in May and is being conducted under new constituency boundaries. These changes have increased the number of MPs for England by 10, bringing its total to 543, while Wales and Scotland have seen reductions, and Northern Ireland remains unchanged with 18 seats.

Voting eligibility extends to anyone aged 18 or over who is a British citizen or a qualifying citizen of the Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland, with voter registration having closed on 18 June. Notably, this is the first general election requiring voters in England, Wales, and Scotland to show photo ID at polling stations.

Meteorological forecasts predict winds up to 40mph and regional showers, especially affecting the west and northwest of the UK, while southeast England is expected to be bright and warm with temperatures around 22C. Despite these weather conditions, historical data suggests voter turnout will not be significantly impacted.