Voters in eastern England are casting their ballots this Thursday for a by-election triggered triggered by Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, amid a boycott by mainstream parties.
The traditional parties have shunned the contest for the Clacton parliamentary seat -- represented by Farage since July 2024 -- denouncing his move to resign and launching a new vote as a stunt.
As such, Farage's main rival is a joke candidate called Count Binface alongside 33 other fringe candidates.
Polling stations have opened at 7:00 am and will close by 10:00 pm, with counting beginning immediately and a result expected by around 7:00 am Friday.
Turnout -- nearly 59 percent in the 2024 general election -- could be significantly down given the lack of traditional candidates from ruling centre-left Labour and the centre-right Conservatives.
