Voting in the General Election is under way across Northern Ireland.

More than 1,000 polling stations across the region opened at 7am to decide 18 constituency races.

Wednesday saw final preparations being made.

As the 102 candidates finished canvassing, election staff geared up for a day of voting followed by a night of counting at four centres, after the polls close at 10pm.

Ballot boxes were checked at a storage facility on the outskirts of Belfast, before being loaded on to lorries for transport to polling stations across 18 constituencies.

Rathlin Island’s ballot boxes were taken by ferry on an earlier sailing than previously planned on Wednesday, due to weather conditions.

Some 1,293,971 eligible voters can cast their ballots in Northern Ireland.

However fewer people are using postal or proxy methods to vote, according to figures released by the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland.

A total of 16,969 people have received a postal vote, down from 23,687 in the general election in 2017.

An election box for the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone
An election box for the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone (Liam McBurney/PA)

Fewer proxy votes have also been arranged, down from 11,707 in 2017 to 8,820 this year.

The Democratic Unionist Party is hoping to return with at least the ten MPs they won in 2017, to retain the influence they had in the last parliament.

Sinn Fein won seven seats at the last general election and have said they hope to make gains on Thursday, while the 18th MP, independent Lady Sylvia Hermon has stepped down.

Meanwhile, the smaller parties are hoping to make a return to the green benches in the House of Commons.

Leader Arlene Foster is expected to cast her vote in Co Fermanagh later.

Sinn Fein NI leader Michelle O’Neill will vote in Co Tyrone, Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken will vote in Co Antrim, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood will vote in Londonderry, and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long will vote in Belfast.

Across Northern Ireland, 1,343 polling stations in 608 places will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Counting will start after the polls close at four counting centres, in Belfast, Magherafelt, Omagh and Bangor, with the first results expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.