Voters are heading for the polls as the future make-up of Westminster is decided in the general election. Polling stations are open in Northern Ireland between 0700 BST and 2200 BST on Thursday.

The Electoral Commission has reminded voters to bring photographic identification with them when they go to vote on Thursday. Voters do not have to bring a polling card if they are registered, but they do have to bring one of the following forms of photographic ID:

• A UK or Irish passport
• A photographic UK, Irish or EEA driving licence
• A Translink Senior Smartpass, 60+ Smartpass, War Disabled Smartpass, Blind Person's Smartpass
• An Electoral Identity Card

All registered voters should have received a polling card in the post, which includes information about where voters should cast their ballot.

Seamus Magee, head of the Electoral Commission's Office in Northern Ireland explained the type of voting required.

"Read the ballot paper carefully and put one 'X' in the box next to the candidate you want to vote for. Remember that you can vote for one candidate only," he said.

"Fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. If you are not clear what to do, ask the polling station to help you.

"People who complete the ballot paper incorrectly may spoil their vote, so it is important to remember that if you are going to the polling station you must follow this method."

There are 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland with 1,169,184 eligible to vote, an increase of 2.5% since the last general election in 2005.

Votes will be cast at 1,510 polling booths at 610 locations across Northern Ireland.

Polling ends at 2200 BST after which, for the first time, counting will begin immediately in all Northern Ireland's constituencies.

The chief electoral officer said he had 120 counters in each constituency as opposed to 80 in previous elections.

He said he hoped the whole process would be over by 0300 BST on Friday.