What time does my polling station close tonight?

Tom Herbert12 December 2019
WEST END FINAL

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Polling stations across the UK have opened as voters head to the ballot boxes for the first December general election in nearly a century.

The public will cast their votes in what is being billed as the most important general election in a generation with many key issues on the table.

It is the third general election in five years with a total of 650 parliamentary seats are up for grabs today in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

With the December election now in full swing, here's what what you need to know about how to cast your vote.

What time do polling stations open and close?

Polling stations opened at 7am on Thursday, December 12 and will close at 10pm in the evening.

The electorate numbers around 46 million on total and there are 40,000 polling stations dotted across the country.

Where is my polling station and how do I find it?

Voters should have received a polling card by now, which tells you where your nearest polling station is.

You will only be able to vote at the polling station on the card, so it's important to take note of the location.

Polling stations tend to be in public buildings, such as schools and town halls, and will be situated near where you live.

But there will also be a number of unusual locations this year such as country pubs, a historic windmill and an inner-city hair salon.

If you haven't received your polling card in the post, you should get in touch with your local Electoral Registration Office.

Electoral services will tell you whether you are registered and where your local polling station is. You can also head to wheredoivote.co.uk to find out the address of your nearest station.

You can still vote in the election without your polling card.

Can I take my dog to the polling station?

Jeremy Selwyn

Of course you can! #Dogsatpollingstations always picks up steam online during an election.

Even the Prime Minister has been spotted voting with his dog Dilyn today.

However certain rules must be followed according to the Electoral Commission, such as keeping your dog on a lead and ensuring they don't disrupt the voting process.

Also, you need to remember the building's policy on dogs too - if it doesn't usually permit dogs, your pet will have to remain outside.

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