In Glastonbury this morning, the queue outside the Town Hall's Community Fridge was notably longer than the line of voters waiting to cast their ballots in the general election. This striking scene underscores the intersection of local needs and national politics as the UK heads to the polls today, Thursday, 4 July.

Rishi Sunak is hoping to maintain a Conservative majority, while Keir Starmer is aiming to bring Labour into power for the first time in 14 years. The Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, and the Green Party are also looking to increase their presence in Parliament. With so much at stake, millions are eager to have their say.

Voting information

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm for in-person voting, with vote counting beginning immediately after the polls close. According to BBC News, if you join the queue before 10pm, you are still allowed to vote even if the line moves past the closing time.

ID requirements

A valid photo ID is necessary to vote. Accepted forms of ID include:

• England, Scotland, and Wales: Passports, driving licences, older or disabled person's bus passes, and 60+ Oyster cards.
• Northern Ireland: Passports, driving licences, senior travel passes, and war disablement passes.

For a detailed list of acceptable IDs, please refer to your local electoral commission's website.

Polling station etiquette

Selfies are prohibited inside polling stations to maintain ballot secrecy. Revealing how someone else voted, even accidentally, can result in a fine of up to £5,000 or six months in prison. Political discussions are also banned within polling stations, and staff will intervene if necessary.

Local candidates in Glastonbury and Somerton

List of candidates

• Tom Carter (Reform UK)
• Jon Cousins (Green Party)
• Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat)
• Hal Hooberman (Labour)
• Faye Purbrick (Conservative)

We contacted all candidates running for the MP position in the Glastonbury and Somerton constituency. Their responses to our questions can help you make an informed decision. For their full responses, visit Glastonbury Nub News.

What the polls say:

Survation prediction: Liberal Democrat

This contest is a rematch of the Somerton and Frome by-election, with Lib Dem candidate Sarah Dyke (who represents the Blackmoor Vale division on Somerset Council) hoping to see off Faye Purbrick (who represents the Yeovil South division) for a second time.

While an earlier YouGov poll predicts that the Tories would narrowly win back the seat, Survation is predicting a thumping Lib Dem victory, with Ms Dyke expected to win more than twice as many votes as Ms Purbrick or the Reform UK candidate, Tom Carter.

The Lib Dems have thrown significant resources at this part of the West Country, with party leader Sir Ed Davey popping into Glastonbury for an ice cream and bike ride on 11 June and foreign affairs spokesperson Layla Moran rallying the troops in Langport on 26 June before her appearance at the Glastonbury Festival.

If these polls are correct, this seat will have gone from one of the safest Tory seats in the country to a Lib Dem stronghold in less than five years.

Election results

Residents of Glastonbury and Somerton will likely need to stay up until the early hours of 5 July to learn who their new MP will be. Results for this area are expected around 4am, with the count taking place at the Westlands Entertainment Venue in Yeovil. In previous years, this venue has witnessed significant electoral shifts, so a different outcome might be on the cards this time. Keep in mind that these timings are approximate and can be affected by ballot verification and recounts. For updates, visit Glastonbury Nub News.