The BBC election programme gets under way at 21.55 BST on BBC One and the BBC News Channel. But if you can't wait that long why not pass the time with this interactive video inside the studio in Elstree.

There are now less than 30 minutes until polls close. If you were planning to vote and haven't left the house yet, leave NOW.

Leeds City Council is reportedly sending "emergency teams" to the Pudsey constituency to deal with problems caused by long queues at polling stations, BBC Look North says. Some voters are choosing to turn away rather than wait, it's added.

There are 45 minutes... count 'em... until the polls close in what is forecast to be the tightest election in at least one if not two generations.

Are you excited? Are you going to stay up all night? Have you invited your friends round for an election party (Don't scoff, it's a thing)? Have you seen scuffles at polling stations? (Remember there were several in 2010).

Well, if you are staying up to watch the results we'll be here with you right through until 07:00 - Victoria King, Justin Parkinson, Matthew West and Victoria Park - plus all the other BBC folk who'll be contributing to the page. We want to hear from you as always so email us at politics@bbc.co.uk or tweet @bbcpolitics., external

It's not just the general election that's taking place today . Many councils are also holding contests. In Edinburgh, around 80% of 357,929 postal votes have been returned.

Image source, AP

There is a grand total of 650 seats up for grabs in the UK Parliament. Here's the national breakdown:

- 533 in England

- 59 in Scotland

- 40 in Wales

- 18 in Northern Ireland

Voting is (literally) entering its final hour. We don't know about you but excitement levels are really starting to ramp up now. Millions of people across the country have been casting their votes. Here's our story.

BBC Northern Ireland is gearing up to provide comprehensive coverage as the election results start coming in.

You can find more details on what to expect from the coverage - which will be across TV, radio and online - here.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

When the votes have been cast and the polling stations are shut, it won't just be the politicians who are in for a sleepless night. The people responsible for counting - and recounting - the ballot papers will be steeling themselves for a night of intense pressure and concentration.

BBC reporter Jodie Smith takes a look at the "bundle-flicking" world of the counters.

How will BBC Wales be covering election night? Funny you should ask, political reporter Carl Roberts has been behind the scenes of the election night operation to find out.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

Continuing the theme of quirky voting venues, this garage of a house in Croydon is playing host to the voting public today. I wonder where they moved the car?

There are about 50,000 polling stations in Britain - some more unusual than others. Like this boxing club in Hull for example.

Image source, AFP/Getty Images

There's been an abundance of political news over the last few months or so but today - until the polls close in exactly two hours' time at 2200 BST - there are restrictions on what the BBC can report about the election. Ric Bailey, the BBC's Chief Adviser on politics explains the rules.

BBC London News reported that some voters in the capital have been stopped from having their say at the ballot box.

The problem is in Hackney where, because of an IT glitch, dozens of people found their name wasn't on the council's "printed register".

Elsewhere, voters have been sent to the wrong polling station in Bedfont, Hounslow, because of a wrong address being printed on their polling cards (election rules require you vote at the station you have been assigned).

Hounslow Council has apologised and put on a shuttle bus service between the polling booths.

For the past five general elections the counting team at Sunderland has pipped everyone else to the post and declared its three results first.

Indeed, Houghton and Sunderland South has held the record since 1992 - and is expected to again be the first to declare tonight, at about 23.00 BST.

The process is now down to a fine art, with schoolchildren passing ballot boxes down the line and bank tellers counting the votes.

But this time round, its neighbouring constituency, Newcastle, is hoping to come hot on Sunderland's heels - and also finish its three counts before midnight.

Both councils have categorically dismissed any idea of a race to be first.