Polls open in the North
Voters in the North have started going to the polls in an election that could see their MPs influencing the shape of the next British government.
Polling stations in the 18 constituencies opened at 7am and will close at 10pm.
Politicians will hope the clear skies they woke to will stay throughout the day and have a positive impact on turnout.
With the race to get into Downing Street potentially coming down to a handful of seats, the post-election intentions of the main Northern Ireland parties has come in for heightened scrutiny.
In 2010, the Democratic Unionists secured eight of the 18 seats, Sinn Féin five, the SDLP three, and the Alliance Party and independent Sylvia Hermon had one each.
With Sinn Féin insisting its century-old Westminster abstentionist policy will remain, the DUP claims it is best placed to exert influence in any hung parliament.
It has stated a willingness to back either Ed Miliband or David Cameron, depending on what they offer.
At times during the campaign the DUP saw its message obscured by a controversy over anti-gay comments made by Stormont health minister Jim Wells – remarks that ultimately prompted his resignation.
The SDLP is traditionally aligned with Labour, so would be expected to support Mr Miliband if requested.
While the Alliance Party has links with the Liberal Democrats, its sole MP Naomi Long sat on the opposition benches in the last parliament.
An electoral pact with the Ulster Unionists has boosted the DUP’s chances of seeing deputy leader Nigel Dodds retain North Belfast and Gavin Robinson recapture the East Belfast seat party leader Peter Robinson lost to Mrs Long in 2010.
SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell could face a challenge to hold on to his seat in South Belfast, with the DUP’s Jonathan Bell and Sinn Féin’s Mairtin O Muilleoir both hoping to poll well.
Elsewhere, the traditional razor-edge battle for Fermanagh and South Tyrone will command attention.
Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew won by just four votes in 2010 – a margin reduced to a solitary ballot paper after review by the electoral courts.
This time round she faces off against Ulster Unionist Tom Elliott, another of the DUP and UUP’s four agreed candidates.
Upper Bann and South Antrim are also shaping up to be hard fought.
The outgoing DUP MP in Upper Bann, David Simpson, is facing a significant challenge from the UUP, with Sinn Féin also hoping to contend, while his party colleague in South Antrim, Willie McCrea, is set for a wrestle with the Ulster Unionists to hold on to his seat.
