General election 2017: Britain goes to the polls

Polls have opened in the UK, 52 days after Prime Minister Theresa May called a snap general election, reports CNN.

More than 46 million people are eligible to vote in what is the fourth major UK poll in three years, following the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the 2015 general election, and the 2016 Brexit vote (to say nothing of local elections in 2014, 2015 and 2017).

Polls close at 10 p.m. UK time, with results expected to begin rolling in within an hour or so after voting finishes.

May called the election three years earlier than scheduled ahead of what are expected to be tough negotiations with the European Union over Britain`s exit from the bloc.

Voters in all 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are choosing their local member of parliament (MP) from the more than 3,300 candidates running throughout the UK.

In the UK system, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party able to form a government, meaning they need the support of the majority of the House of Commons - where MPs sit - or 326 seats.

Only two people have a realistic chance of being the next Prime Minister: May, the incumbent, or Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Before the election, May had a majority of 12 seats, won in 2015 under Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who stepped down after losing the Brexit vote.

If she retains or bolsters that majority, she will stay on as Prime Minister (though losing seats could make her position as Conservative Party leader unstable).

Failure by any party to win a majority will result in what is a called a hung parliament.