Polls open in Britain's General Election

The people of the United Kingdom headed to the polls Thursday to choose the 650 members of the next House of Commons, the elected chamber in a bicameral system. 

Their choice will decide which party or parties will govern Britain for the next five years. 

Polls opened at 7:00 am (0600GMT).  

Around 50 million Britons are eligible to vote at polling stations located everywhere from shipping containers to churches and pubs on the mainland and remote islands that will close at 2100 GMT.

Exit polls will be released at 2100 GMT (2200 BST), and most results will emerge overnight, although the final tally of seats may not become clear until Friday afternoon. 

The new government would face its first big test when lawmakers vote on its legislative programme after a traditional speech given by Queen Elizabeth II in parliament on May 27.   

Global consequences 

The election is being watched closely around the world due to the consequences it could have for the standing of Britain, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and nuclear-armed NATO state.   

"This general election will determine what Britain's place will be in the world in a way that no other general election has done previously, but the importance of this is chronically under-discussed," Jeanne Park, deputy director of the Council on Foreign Relations, said earlier.  

The consequences of the election will start to become clear on Friday but could take far longer than that to play out in full.  

Under Britain's strict election law, media outlets are restricted in what they can report on polling day. Restrictions will be eased once the polls close.