PEOPLE across the country are heading to the polls to cast their vote in the first Christmas time election since 1923.

Voters will be choosing a candidate to represent their area in the House of Commons, to make laws on their behalf and find a way through the Brexit deadlock.

In Brighton and Hove there are three constituencies.

These are Brighton Kemptown, which extends into the Lewes district, Brighton Pavilion, and Hove and Portslade.

The polls will be open to voters today from 7am until 10pm.

To vote, you would have needed to register by November 26, be aged 18 or over on the day of the election and be a British, Irish or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

You must also be a resident at an address in the UK or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.

You must go to your allocated polling station to vote.

You can find your allocated polling station on your polling card or go to www.wheredoivote.co.uk.

You do not need to take your polling card with you when you vote.

You do not need a photo ID to vote in this election – though there are plans to change this in future.

Only a name and address is required.

Postal votes must be received by 10pm – if you have missed the post they can be handed in in person at Hove Town Hall or to your polling station in your constituency.

The results of the election will be announced from tonight until the early hours of tomorrow.

The first indication we will have of what the final result will be will come at 10pm.

At 10pm, an “exit poll” will be released.

This is a poll of voters who have just cast their ballot.

The results for the three Brighton constituencies, which will be announced at the Brighton Centre, could come in as late as 6am tomorrow.

The results will be announced as soon as the votes are tallied. This means that some Brighton constituencies might be called earlier than others.