General election 2017: What you need to know in Wales

David DeansBBC News
BBC Wales political correspondent Arwyn Jones explains what is up for grabs on Thursday

Tomorrow Wales and the rest of the UK goes to the polls in 2017's general election.

Wales elects 40 MPs to the House of Commons in 40 constituencies.

All 40 Welsh MPs from the last parliament are standing again - with a total of 213 candidates taking part.

Here's what you need to know ahead of Thursday's poll.

News imageline

Guides to the main parties

WELSH LABOUR

News imageCarwyn Jones at 2017 Welsh Labour campaign launch
Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones - who is first minister - has fronted the party's campaign

Welsh Labour is standing in 40 seats in Wales. It is defending 25 of them.

Its focus has been on defending what it holds - with the party playing down the chance of gains.

But it has said it has run serious campaigns in Gower, the Vale of Clwyd and Cardiff North, where the Conservatives have small majorities.

News imageline

WELSH CONSERVATIVES

News imageAFP Alun CairnsAFP
Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns has led the Welsh Tory campaign

The Welsh Conservatives are standing in 40 seats and are defending 11.

All of its big targets are Labour-held seats, with Bridgend and Wrexham the most prominent.

Party sources have also talked about the Newport seats, Alyn and Deeside, Clwyd South, Cardiff South and Penarth and Cardiff West as possible targets.

News imageline

PLAID CYMRU

News imageGetty Images Leanne WoodGetty Images
Leanne Wood has taken part in two UK-wide TV debates

Plaid is standing in all 40 seats and is defending three.

Earlier in the campaign Plaid said it was targeting six seats for gains - Ceredigion, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda, Ynys Mon and Llanelli.

News imageline

WELSH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

News imageMark Williams
Welsh leader Mark Williams has led the Lib Dem campaign in Wales for the general election

The Lib Dems are standing in 40 seats and are defending one seat.

The party is targeting Cardiff Central, Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire, all seats it has previously held.

News imageline

UKIP

News imageNeil Hamilton
Neil Hamilton leads the five member group of UKIP AMs in the assembly

UKIP is standing in 32 seats. It has yet to win a seat in Wales at a general election.

It would be a major shock if UKIP was to win a Westminster seat in Wales at this election.

Read more on the major parties' target seats.

News imageline

Which are the big contests to watch on the night?

News imageAFP Roath ParkAFP
Voting in Roath Park - part of the Cardiff Central constituency

Early on in the campaign BBC Wales produced a list of seats to keep an eye on on the night - seats which could spell out the story of this election.

They include Bridgend, the backyard of First Minister Carwyn Jones, that is being eyed-up by the Conservatives. The challenge for the seat was explored by BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.

Other key seats to watch, include:

  • Gower - the tightest marginal in the UK, and on paper one seat that Labour could get back from the last general election
  • Cardiff Central - can the Welsh Lib Dems take back this constituency at the heart of the capital?
  • Clwyd South - can the Tories win this Labour-held seat, and others like it in the region?
  • Ynys Mon - a Labour-held marginal challenged by Plaid Cymru

It may also be worth keeping an eye on Blaenau Gwent, which is held by Labour and is also being targeted by Plaid Cymru.

News imageline

How to vote

News imageGetty Images Polling stationGetty Images

Voters elect MPs through a system known as first-past-the-post - the winner of the poll is the candidate with the most votes.

Polling stations open at 07:00 BST on Thursday and close at 22:00.

The ballot paper will list all the candidates standing in your constituency. Put a cross in the box next to the candidate you want to vote for.

The deadline to register to vote was 22 May. It is now too late to do so.

If you need an emergency proxy vote - if you are called away unexpected for work or you suffer a medical emergency - you can apply by 17:00 on polling day.

For more information visit the Electoral Commission website.

You can find your candidates for the election by putting your postcode in this box:

News imageline