It’s official – thanks to the Queen formally dissolving Parliament – the countdown to the general election is on.

Now voters are faced with just the small task of deciding who to vote for.

Thanks to Brexit, the country is likely to be split in a way it never has been before.

Could Conservative voters switch to Lib Dem to show support for remaining in the EU or will long-term Labour fans choose to back the Tories to ‘get the job done’?

It can be overwhelming attempting to make decisions on the different election promises candidates pledge for your vote.

So first things first, it can be helpful to look at who exactly is running in your constituency.

When will I find out who is running in my area?

As of 6 November, MPs have lost their status and are now prospective parliamentary candidates campaigning alongside others for re-election.

According to Electoral Commission rules, nomination papers must be submitted by all prospective candidates before 4pm on the 19th working day before the election – in this case that means Friday 15 November.

A list of the candidates who are standing across all 650 constituencies will be published after this date – known as the ‘Statement of Persons Nominated’.

The candidates will be posted to all local authority websites and on notice boards in your area after the deadline for nominations has passed – around mid-November.

How do I find out who they are?

You can go online, to the Electoral Commission website, where all the official election information for your area can be found.

After the list of candidates has been finalised, you can enter your postcode and be told the names of those running in your area.

Can I find out before the ‘Statement of Persons Nominated’ is published?

The independent website Who Can I Vote For? contains information about candidates who have already publicly put their hats in the ring.

All you have to do to find out who they are is type in your postcode and be shown the candidates for you constituency.

The website warns: ‘This election will be held on Thursday, 12 December, 2019.

‘The official candidate list has not yet been published.’

It then states how many people are expected to stand in your constituency, before the list is finalised.

The website also gives a short piece of background on each candidate, as well as contact information, their Twitter page and their election history – if they have any.

How can I find out what they stand for?

When the Electoral Commission publishes the official list of candidates it will update its Your Vote Matters website.

The website will tell you which council ward you live in and a list of all the people standing for election in that area, as well as what party they represent.

However it will not say what their policies are or tell you who to vote for.

Local branches of political parties are likely to be canvassing in your area in the run up to the election.

You are also likely to receive an influx of leaflets through your door in the coming weeks identifying your candidates and what they are promising to deliver.

Many will set up their own websites setting out their manifestos too.

If you want to vote in the December election but can’t make it to your local polling station on the day, you can register for a postal vote.

All the information on how to do that is available here.

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