**London** — British voters headed to the polls Thursday for the United Kingdom's first general election since 2019.


Incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, his main opponent, were among those casting their votes. The Conservative Party, led by Sunak, is expected to be ousted from power after 14 years.


#### Election Process


On Thursday, British voters are not directly choosing a new leader. Instead, they are electing 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons. The party that wins at least 326 seats can form the next government, with its leader becoming the prime minister.


Sunak's Conservative Party held 345 seats before Parliament was dissolved on May 30, giving it substantial control over the policy agenda.


The U.K. uses a first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins the seat, regardless of whether they have a majority. Voters can also choose to vote tactically to prevent a less favored candidate from winning.


This system often benefits the two major parties, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, while smaller parties argue it limits their representation.


#### Election Timeline


Voting started on Thursday morning, and most results are expected by early Friday morning. A joint exit poll from Sky News, ITV, and BBC News, typically released at 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Eastern), will provide an early indication of the results.


#### Polling and Predictions


Polling and analysts have long predicted a Labour landslide. If the polls are accurate, Sunak's tenure will end, and Labour will lead the government for the first time in 14 years. The Conservative rule has seen political and economic instability, with five different Conservative prime ministers in the last eight years.


Recent polling by YouGov shows Labour leading by 17 points, with 39% of voters supporting Labour compared to 22% for the Conservatives. Labour is projected to win 431 seats, a gain of 229, while the Conservatives are expected to retain only 102 seats, a loss of 263.


#### Keir Starmer: The Potential Next Prime Minister


Keir Starmer, elected Labour leader in 2020 after the party's worst defeat in 85 years, is poised to become the prime minister. Starmer, 61, has aimed to make Labour more electable by moving it towards the political center, distancing it from the far-left policies of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.


While criticized for lacking charisma, Starmer's centrist strategy seems to be working, despite some left-leaning voters shifting their support to smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.


#### European Political Trends


A Labour victory would contrast with the recent rise of far-right parties in Europe. Marine Le Pen's National Rally Party made significant gains in France's parliamentary elections, and far-right candidates have also seen success in Italy, France, and Germany, campaigning against immigration and environmental policies.


In the U.K., Nigel Farage's far-right Reform Party is projected to win about five seats, including Farage's own, marking a significant increase from its current position with zero seats. Farage's anti-immigrant rhetoric has shifted some Conservative votes to Reform.


While Farage's party won't take power soon, his influence is expected to grow, potentially impacting the Conservative Party as it attempts to rebuild after a likely significant defeat.