As well as the race for No 10, the general election throws up a race of a different kind - who will declare first?
This is where the North East fares well, with either Sunderland or Newcastle historically the first constituency across the line.
The first December general election since 1923 was called following a historic vote in the House of Commons in October.
In the North East, 22 constituencies are being contested. These are the key seats to watch
You'll want to make a note of the time these North East seats tend to declare, so you know when to set your alarm.
We will have live updates in our blog and below you can find the average and expected declaration times for the North East seats.
This year Northumberland is pushing to beat the Sunderland and Newcastle dash with Blyth Valley possibly the first seat to declare between 11pm and midnight.
Houghton & Sunderland South - between 11pm and midnight on Thursday, December 12
Sunderland Central - between 11pm and midnight
Washington & Sunderland West - between 11pm and midnight
Blyth Valley - around 3.30am
Newcastle upon Tyne Central - around 1am (NOTE: One Newcastle result may be known by 11pm although it is not known which seat)
Newcastle upon Tyne East - around 1am (NOTE: One Newcastle result may be known by 11pm although it is not known which seat)
Darlington - between 1 and 2am
Newcastle upon Tyne North - around 2am (NOTE: One Newcastle result may be known by 11pm although it is not known which seat)
Hartlepool - between 2 and 3am
South Shields - between 2 and 3am
Bishop Auckland - around 3am
Jarrow - around 3am
Stockton North - around 3am
Easington - around 3am
City of Durham - around 3.30am
Durham North - around 3.30am
Durham North West - around 3.30am
Blaydon - around 3.30am
Redcar - around 3.30am
Stockton South - around 3.30am
Sedgefield - around 3.30am
Berwick-upon-Tweed - around 3.30am
Wansbeck - around 3.30am
Gateshead - around 4am
Tynemouth - around 4.30am
North Tyneside - around 4.30am
Middlesbrough South & Cleveland East - around 5am
Hexham - around 5am
Middlesbrough - around 6.30am
