General Election 2019: My first time voting

After turning 18 earlier this year, I've been looking forward to voting because it'll be my first opportunity to have some input into how the country is run.

While some may see it as simply ticking a box on a piece of paper, a person's first vote in my opinion is a big deal.

I have spent time researching the party's policies to see which best fit with my own values and concerns about the country.

The Mercury's candidate profiles, also gave me a better insight into the people who would be representing the area that I live and work in.

For me, the most important thing is having the sufficient facts to make an informed decision.

It took me by surprise how difficult I found it to come to my final decision on who to vote for.

Knowing that Brexit is a large factor looming over this general election made it even more of a challenge, especially as I am not very knowledgeable on this topic.

Not only will this be my first time voting, but also my first time covering the election count as a reporter - something I am really looking forward to.

To read more about the candidates and for results as they come in, click here.