IT’S the general election hardly anybody expected – and which was interrupted by two tragedies.

Live General Election coverage

We had been told the Fixed Term Parliaments Act of 2011 would make it difficult for prime ministers to call elections at times of their choosing.

But Theresa May managed just that after announcing on April 18 that she would go to the country. The move came only two years after David Cameron defied the polls to win the first Conservative majority since 1992.

Across the country, politicians and party volunteers, who had the election in their diary for May 7, 2020, had to be ready immediately.

The only lull in the campaigning came for the worst of reasons.

The suicide bombing at the Ariana Grande gig at Manchester Arena killed 23 people on May 22. The London terror attack on June 3 is so far known to have killed eight.

The increased concerns about safety have prompted local authorities to put on extra security at the venues where votes will be counted tonight.

Matt Pitcher, Head of Elections, said: “Following recent events we have increased general security awareness among those attending the Littledown Centre on the night. Election security has also been stepped up. Anyone wishing to access the building will need to present a badge or have their name on the list in order to gain access.”

Dorset and the New Forest returned MPs from just one party, the Conservatives, in 2015.

In fact, only two local seats have had non-Tory MPs in recent times.

Mid-Dorset & North Poole was represented by the Liberal Democrats from 2001-10, but Michael Tomlinson won it back in 2015 with a 10,530 majority over Lib Dem Vikki Slade. The Green Party is standing aside this time, and Ukip is not fielding a candidate either, leaving the Tories, Lib Dems and Labour in the race.

South Dorset was a Labour seat from 2001-10 before being won for the Tories by Richard Drax, who held it with a 11,994 majority over Labour in 2015. There are candidates this time from the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems and Greens.

The safest seat locally for the Tories at the moment is North Dorset, where Conservative Simon Hoare had a majority of 21,118 votes over Ukip in 2015.

The Tories also have strong majorities in New Forest West, Christchurch, Poole, Bournemouth East and West.

And while MPs have been forced to fight for their jobs three years earlier than expected, the public have also had to face another election campaign just a year after a very divisive EU referendum.

with the Liberal Democrats in third place. Ukip are not standing this time, so the race is between the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Labour and Greens.

In New Forest West, Conservative Desmond Swayne had a majority of 20,604 over Ukip, with Labour third. The seat is being contested by the Tories, Lib Dems, Labour and the Pirate Party this time around.

In Christchurch, Tory Chris Chope was 18,224 votes ahead of Ukip, with Labour third. There is no Ukip candidate this time, only Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens.

Poole was another seat where Ukip was second last time, coming 15,789 votes behind Tory Robert Syms, with Labour third. With no Ukip candidate, the choice is between Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Green and a Demos Direct Initiative candidate.

In Bournemouth East, government minister Tobias Ellwood had a majority over Labour of 14,612 in 2015, with Ukip a strong third. Ukip is fighting this seat again, along with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Greens and an independent.

Conor Burns held Bournemouth West last time with a 12,410 majority over Ukip and Labour in third place. Ukip is not challenging the Tories there this time, but the Lib Dems, Labour, Green and Pirate Party are.

Peter Jackson, 71, who lives in Branksome Wood Road, said: “It wasn’t really an election we wanted and then the campaign has just seemed to drag out.

“It hasn’t helped that the candidates have been so disappointing, especially Theresa May.”

But John Rosier, 67, from Southend-on-Sea, said he was glad Theresa May called the election.

“It was the right decision and I think she has come across quite well during the campaign,” he added.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the country but personally I don’t think the recent terror attacks will impact the election in any way.”

Bournemouth resident Molly Thomas, 21, will be voting in her second election today.

She said: “This election has been like choosing between the lesser of two evils.

“It’s not been a great campaign. All we have seen is the candidates yelling at each other but not really answering any of the questions that the public need answered.

“I have no idea how the result will go. After Brexit and Donald Trump it’s hard to know what will happen.”

Will General Election 2017 be close, or will it be one to upset the political applecart?

The pollsters – who have been changing their methodology since the surprise result of 2015 – have produced some wildly varying findings. So it looks like one to stay up for.

You can follow polling day events online today.

Polling stations are open until 10pm and we’ll be live blogging the results as the come in. There will be a full round-up of the results, the fallout and the local colour in Saturday’s paper.