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UK voters are going to the polls for the third general election in less than five years.

Polling stations in 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland opened at 07:00 GMT.

After the polls close at 22:00 GMT, counting will begin straight away. Most results are due to be announced in the early hours of December 13.

A total of 650 lawmakers will be chosen under the first-past-the-post system used for general elections, in which the candidate who secures the most votes in each individual constituency is elected.

In 2017, Newcastle Central was the first constituency to declare, announcing its result about an hour after polls closed.

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Elections in the UK traditionally take place every four or five years. However, in October, lawmakers voted for the second snap poll in as many years. It is the first winter election since 1974 and the first to take place in December since 1923.

Anyone aged 18 or over is eligible to vote, as long as they are a British citizen or qualifying citizen of the Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland and have registered to vote. Registration closed on November 26.

People do not need a polling card to be able to vote but will need to give their name and address at their local polling station. People can only vote for one candidate or their ballot paper will not be counted.

PM Boris Johnson has cast his vote – he visited a polling station in central London, taking his dog, Dilyn, along with him, and Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn voted in north London.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has used a postal vote.

Many people have already put a cross next to the name of their favored candidate by voting by post – more than seven million people used a postal vote two years ago.

UK’s PM David Cameron has announced he will step down by October after Britain voted to leave the EU.

In a statement outside Downing Street, David Cameron said he would attempt to “steady the ship” over the coming weeks and months but that “fresh leadership” was needed.

He had urged Britain to vote Remain but was defeated by 52% to 48% despite London, Scotland and Northern Ireland backing staying in.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage hailed it as the UK’s “independence day”.

The pound fell to its lowest level against the dollar since 1985 as the markets reacted to the results.

Photo Getty Images

Photo Getty Images

Flanked by wife Samantha, PM David Cameron said he had informed Queen Elizabeth II of his decision to remain in place for the short term and to then hand over to a new prime minister by the time of the Conservative conference in October.

It would be for the new prime minister to carry out negotiations with the EU and invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would give the UK two years to negotiate its withdrawal, David Cameron said.

“The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected,” he said.

“The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered.”

The Brexit referendum turnout was 71.8% – with more than 30 million people voting – the highest turnout at a UK-wide vote since 1992.

Britain is set to be the first country to leave the EU since its formation – but the Leave vote does not immediately mean Britain ceases to be a member of the 28-nation bloc.

That process could take a minimum of two years, with Leave campaigners suggesting during the referendum campaign that it should not be completed until 2020 – the date of the next scheduled general election.

Once Article 50 has been triggered a country cannot rejoin without the consent of all member states.

The UK’s government will also have to negotiate its future trading relationship with the EU and fix trade deals with non-EU countries.