Election polls opened today at 7am in the UK across the country, with millions of people expected to cast their ballot through the day. The 10pm closing should give most people ample time to get out and vote, but turnout could make it difficult towards the end of the day.
What happens if there is a queue on election day?
In 2017, an estimated 46.8 million people turned out to vote for a new Prime Minister.
Total turnout was nearly 70 percent, and marked one of the most attended elections in recent memory.
Figures were only slightly lower than the 2016 referendum, in which 72.2 percent of the country voted.
READ MORE: Labour activist defies election rules outside polling station
This year the election comes with a distinctive Brexit focus, and turnout may be much the same.
As such, people could be crowding outside their local polling station late in the evening, or when they are about to close at 10pm.
People still waiting outside at this time can still vote, according to election rules.
The Electoral Commission says all of those who are standing in a queue as closing time approaches must be allowed to vote in the election.
Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at the Queen Mary University, said the long queues could be beneficial for Labour, but it depends who is in them.
He told The Sun: “It depends who’s in the queues.
“In London, we’ve seen in the past that a higher turnout in some constituencies will increase an already Labour majority, but not necessarily switch it.
“Having said that, if there are lots of people are motivated to vote who might not normally vote, it could be a good sign for Leave, like in the Brexit referendum.”
