London (CNN) After one of the most tumultuous years in British political history, polls have opened in the country's general election.

Less than a year since Britain voted to leave the European Union and just 11 days before the start of negotiations over the terms of that departure begins, the snap election was called by British Prime Minister Theresa May with a focus on securing a mandate to take into Brexit talks.

But the divorce from Europe has faded into the background in recent weeks in the wake of the t error attacks which hit Manchester and London , with campaigning suspended in the aftermath of both events.

Instead, factors such as the economy, the National Health Service and security have become the main topics for discussion.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, left, arrives with her partner, Jen Wilson, to cast her vote in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, left, arrives with her partner, Jen Wilson, to cast her vote in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Leanne Wood, leader of the party Plaid Cymru, leaves a polling station after voting in Rhondda, Wales.

Leanne Wood, leader of the party Plaid Cymru, leaves a polling station after voting in Rhondda, Wales.

Police officers enter a polling station in London ahead of the arrival of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Police officers enter a polling station in London ahead of the arrival of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

A mannequin sits on display outside a pub where a polling station was set up in Roecliffe, England.

A mannequin sits on display outside a pub where a polling station was set up in Roecliffe, England.

A swimmer does laps at a public pool where a polling station was set up in Arundel, England.

A swimmer does laps at a public pool where a polling station was set up in Arundel, England.

Sophie Allison rides her horse out of a polling station set up at a private residence near Reading, England.

Sophie Allison rides her horse out of a polling station set up at a private residence near Reading, England.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks to a member of the public before casting his vote at a school in London.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks to a member of the public before casting his vote at a school in London.

A dog waits outside a polling station in Stalybridge, England. Many people in the UK have been using the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations to show off their pooches at the polls.

A sign is seen on a telephone box outside a polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London.

A sign is seen on a telephone box outside a polling station at Rotherwick Hall, west of London.

Sorcha Eastwood, an Alliance Party candidate in Northern Ireland, stands outside a polling station in Lisburn after casting her vote. She and her husband, Dale Shirlow, were married earlier in the day.

Sorcha Eastwood, an Alliance Party candidate in Northern Ireland, stands outside a polling station in Lisburn after casting her vote. She and her husband, Dale Shirlow, were married earlier in the day.

Election staff take their seats before counting votes in Sunderland, England.

Election staff take their seats before counting votes in Sunderland, England.

Niall Hodson, the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Sunderland Central, reacts as results are declared.

Niall Hodson, the Liberal Democrats' candidate for Sunderland Central, reacts as results are declared.

An official takes a breather as vote counters wait for ballot boxes to arrive in Boston, England.

An official takes a breather as vote counters wait for ballot boxes to arrive in Boston, England.

A graph on a trader's screen shows the fall of the British pound after the first exit poll was released on Thursday, June 8.

A graph on a trader's screen shows the fall of the British pound after the first exit poll was released on Thursday, June 8.

UK Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall, center, speaks with a party member following the vote count. Nuttall resigned later, leaving UKIP seeking its third leader in a year.

UK Independence Party leader Paul Nuttall, center, speaks with a party member following the vote count. Nuttall resigned later, leaving UKIP seeking its third leader in a year.

Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, embraces his wife, Diane, following his election in Belfast. The conservative, pro-union party only gained two seats, but with May's Conservative Party short of a majority, the DUP has become disproportionately important in forming a new government.

Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, embraces his wife, Diane, following his election in Belfast. The conservative, pro-union party only gained two seats, but with May's Conservative Party short of a majority, the DUP has become disproportionately important in forming a new government.

Corbyn prepares to take the stage for poll results to be declared in London.

Corbyn prepares to take the stage for poll results to be declared in London.

Scottish Labour Party supporters celebrate in Glasgow as ballot-counting was underway on June 9.

Scottish Labour Party supporters celebrate in Glasgow as ballot-counting was underway on June 9.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, arrives at a counting hall in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 9. Voters in Scotland sent a resounding message to the party, which lost more than 20 seats.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, arrives at a counting hall in Glasgow, Scotland, on June 9. Voters in Scotland sent a resounding message to the party, which lost more than 20 seats.

May waits for poll results June 9 with other candidates running in her constituency.

In a speech to her constituency in Maidenhead, England, May said that "at this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability."

In a speech to her constituency in Maidenhead, England, May said that "at this time more than anything else, this country needs a period of stability."

The Houses of Parliament are seen at dawn on June 9.

The Houses of Parliament are seen at dawn on June 9.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron speaks to supporters and the press in London on June 9. He told reporters that May "put party before country." He said "we will now have a government that is weaker and less stable at a time that we are about the embark on the most difficult and complex negotiations in our history."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron speaks to supporters and the press in London on June 9. He told reporters that May "put party before country." He said "we will now have a government that is weaker and less stable at a time that we are about the embark on the most difficult and complex negotiations in our history."

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn greets a crowd as he arrives at Labour Party headquarters in London on June 9. Corbyn, who has called on May to resign, started his election campaign with a deficit in the polls of around 20 points. He ended it with more than 30 extra seats.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn greets a crowd as he arrives at Labour Party headquarters in London on June 9. Corbyn, who has called on May to resign, started his election campaign with a deficit in the polls of around 20 points. He ended it with more than 30 extra seats.

A car takes May away from Buckingham Palace after her meeting with the Queen. May was the one who called for the snap election three years earlier than required by law.

A car takes May away from Buckingham Palace after her meeting with the Queen. May was the one who called for the snap election three years earlier than required by law.

Members of the press wait for May outside 10 Downing Street. May's Conservative Party won 318 seats -- short of the 326 needed for a majority and weakening May's position in upcoming Brexit talks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks outside 10 Downing Street after meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on Friday, June 9. May is seeking the Queen's permission to form a new government after her Conservative Party lost seats in Parliament and failed to secure a working majority in a snap general election.

More than 46 million people are eligible to vote in what is the fourth major UK poll in three years, following the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, the 2015 general election, and the 2016 Brexit vote (to say nothing of local elections in 2014, 2015 and 2017).

Polls close at 10 p.m. UK time (5 p.m. ET), with results expected to begin rolling in within an hour or so after voting finishes.

What about Brexit?

While both the Conservatives and Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn, have committed to enacting Brexit, each party has a different vision for how the departure from the EU should happen.

A so-called "hard" Brexit would see the UK leave the EU's single market, which guarantees the free movement of goods, services and people within the bloc.

A "soft" Brexit would still mean Britain leaves the EU, but the government would seek to retain access to the single market and allow some degree of free movement.

As well as their differences over how to implement Brexit, the two parties also have major disagreements on how to handle the rewriting of a great deal of British law currently set by EU regulations.

What happens?

Voters in all 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are choosing their local member of parliament (MP) from the more than 3,300 candidates running throughout the UK.

Conservative Party leader Theresa May and husband Philip voted in Maidenhead, England.

In the UK system, the Prime Minister is the leader of the party able to form a government, meaning they need the support of the majority of the House of Commons -- where MPs sit -- or 326 seats.

Only two people have a realistic chance of being the next Prime Minister: May, the incumbent, or Labour's Corbyn

Before the election, May had a majority of 12 seats, won in 2015 under Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who stepped down after losing the Brexit vote

Jeremy Corbyn arrives to cast his vote at the Pakeman Primary School polling station in Islington.

If she retains or bolsters that majority, she will stay on as Prime Minister (though losing seats could make her position as Conservative Party leader unstable).

Failure by any party to win a majority will result in what is a called a hung parliament.

Liberal Democrats leader Tim Farron arrives to cast his vote at a polling station at Stonecross Manor Hotel in Kendal, Cumbria.

Could we see another coalition?

The UK's first past the post system -- whereby the candidate in each constituency with the most votes, rather than an absolute majority, wins the seat -- means that hung parliaments have traditionally been rare, there have only been two since 1970.

The last time there was a coalition government in Britain was in 2010 when David Cameron's Conservative Party worked alongsie Nick Clegg's Liberal Democrats.

In the past the two largest parties -- Labour and the Conservatives -- dominated British politics.

However, in recent years, a breakdown in traditional party loyalties has made everything more unpredictable.

In 2010, the Conservatives fell 20 seats short of a majority and were forced into a governing coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

That decision was made after negotiations between Labour and the Lib Dems broke down, showing how difficult it can be for two parties to hash out the deal necessary to govern -- something that could be even harder this year.

SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon exits after casting her vote in the general election with her husband Peter Murrel.

Of the seven major parties contesting the election, two -- the Conservatives and UKIP -- sit on the political right, the Liberal Democrats sit roughly in the center, and four -- Labour, the Greens, Plaid Cymru, and the Scottish National Party (SNP) -- are on the left.

Within the wider left wing grouping however, are two nationalist parties, representing Wales and Scotland respectively. That makes negotiations even more complicated -- the SNP for example are seeking a second Scottish independence referendum, which all UK-wide parties oppose.

So if there isn't a clear winner Friday morning, we could be in for a long round of negotiations.