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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Jane Lavender

People can vote if they're in a polling station queue at 10pm - even after they close

It's been billed as the most important General Election of this generation - and voter turnout looks set to be huge.

From this morning huge queues have been building up outside polling stations.

Lines are snaking around many, some more than 100 deep, as some voters have reported waiting for up to 45 minutes to cast their ballot.

There had been fears the weather would put people off voting but the opposite seems to have happened.

Some polling stations have said it is the "busiest ever" election they have seen.

People have been queuing for up to 45 minutes to vote (REUTERS)

In key Labour seats, students have been flocking to polling stations to make sure their voices are heard.

Photos from across the country, from Manchester to London and Nottingham to Cambridge, show long queues outside.

"I've voted at the same station and time for eight years, but have never had to queue before," said Craig Fordham, 45, from Putney, who had to wait for 15 minutes.

Chris Schofield queued for 20 minutes in the Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency.

"It's about 20 times busier than it was in 2017, and for the locals and Euro elections," the 27-year-old consultant said.

Voters queue outside St Andrews Church polling station in Balham, south London (PA)

"Atmosphere is very London: orderly queueing and no-one is talking to each other!"

Mr Schofield said there were over 70 voters waiting outside, adding that there were at least three officers working at the station but only one taking addresses from voters.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.

As it edges ever close to closing time, what happens if you're in a queue to vote but haven't filled in your ballot paper by 10pm?

Anyone already in the queue by 10pm WILL be allowed to vote, even after it has turned 10 o'clock.

Queues are spilling out into the streets (Joe Mellor / SWNS)

The Electoral Commission says: "Polling stations can get busy, however, especially towards the end of the day, and sometimes there can be a queue.

"If you arrive at your polling station and are in a queue waiting to vote at 10pm, you will be able to vote."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is urging anyone who hasn't voted to head to their local polling station.

Writing on Twitter he said: "If you're in the queue before 10pm, you can still vote after polls close."

It is not yet clear what the impact this massive voter turnout will have on the result of the election.

The exit poll will be released just after 10pm and is usually an accurate indicator of what the final result will be.

A full list of results is expected tomorrow.

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