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[h=4]Exit poll: Conservatives running strong in Britain election[/h]Millions of people across are voting in Britain's general election on Thursday, but with no party expected to clearly emerge as an outright winner it may be days before the make-up of the new government is known.
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Voters headed for the polls across Britain Thursday. Prime Minister David Cameron faces Labour Leader Ed Miliband in what's expected to be an extremely close vote. (May 7) AP
Chelsea pensioners, residents of a retirement home for former army personnel, leave a polling station after casting their votes in London.(Photo: Justin Tallis, AFP/Getty Images)
LONDON — An exit poll showed an unexpectedly strong vote for returning Prime Minister David Cameron and his Conservative Party to power in Britain's election Thursday, though the party appeared to fall short of an outright majority.
The poll by Britain's broadcasters showed the Conservatives would win 316 seats in Parliament – 10 short of a majority. A renewed coalition with the central Liberal Democrats could make up the difference to allow Cameron to form a new government.
The exit poll showed the Labour Party lagged with a projected 239 seats.
Pre-election polls showed a near toss-up between the Conservatives and Labour, led by Ed Miliband.
The Scottish National Party was in third place with 58 seats, followed by several other parties.
The poll suggested that Labour will come up short when the votes are counted because it lost most of its Parliament seats representing Scotland to a resurgent Scottish National Party, which favors independence from Britain.
The centrist Liberal Democrats appeared to perform poorly, garnering only 10 seats, according to the exit poll. But that would be enough to renew their current coalition with the Conservatives to form a government.
If the exit poll is accurate, it would appear to give Cameron a decisive lead going ahead with any potential coalition talks.
"I'd treat the exit poll with HUGE caution. I'm hoping for a good night but I think 58 seats is unlikely!" Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturegon tweeted immediately after the results.
Paddy Ashdown, chairman of the 2015 general election campaign for the Liberal Democrats, who formed the previous coalition government with the Conservative Party, told the BBC he believed the exit poll was wrong, and that another survey by market research firm YouGov had predicted the party would get 31 seats.
"Opinion polls are all over the place," he said.
Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman told the broadcaster: "If that poll is right about this election, the Tories (Conservatives) have more or less lost the majority for the coalition. If it's right, the question is whether they would be able to form a majority in the new parliament."
A majority of 326 seats is needed to govern without a coalition partner.
Polls closed at 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET).
Around 50 million people voted in the election in some 50,000 polling stations up and down the country that included schools, community centers, churches and even pubs.
Heading into the voting, polls showed Cameron's Conservative Party was in a statistical dead heat with would-be leader Miliband of the Labour Party.
The candidates showed up early to vote, then slipped out of public view while awaiting the nation's decision. But their Twitter feeds didn't go silent.
"Let's not just reject the Conservatives today, let's reject the Tories' plan that always puts the rich and powerful first. #VoteLabour" Miliband tweeted several hours after voting began.
Cameron's Twitter counter: "Remember, Britain has the chance of a strong, stable Government - but only if you #VoteConservative today"
Supporters of both parties also could be heard on social media. But many Brits just wanted to be sure their countrymen voted.
"I've #voted exercise your democratic right and make sure this parliament really is the people's. #generationvote" tweeted Abitha Pallett, who described herself as a model, student and freelance journalist in London.
The final election tally detailing which 650 candidates have won seats in the House of Commons could come as early as Friday afternoon.
The expectations of a tight race meant that for the first time in generations minor parties with more niche interests could have a major impact on the composition of that government.
The Scottish National Party, for example, wants to see Scotland leave the union with England. The U.K. Independence Party thinks Britain should abandon its membership of the European Union.
USA TODAY
Youth vote to play big role in British election
For many voters, the choice was difficult.
"When I went to vote this morning, I wasn't sure who I was going to vote for. It's hard to know who's best," said Ralph Prime, 51 of London, who ended up going with the Conservatives. "I spent a lot of time in the military and they're the only people I feel gave us appreciation," he said.
"Labour and Conservative — they just seem so alike nowadays," Prime added.
Outside a Westminister polling station, Diana Karter, 60, wouldn't say who she voted for, only that "it's a party I've not voted for since my early years."
Ezerol Petrie, 39, from Brixton in south London, is supporting the Labour Party and said he hopes for a prime minister who can stabilize the economy and provide more opportunities for young people, and for immigrants.
"Many (immigrants) have been working for many years, paying taxes and nothing's been done for them," he said.
Isatu Hamzie, 46, said she voted for Labour because she thought the party was best suited to help families and single parents like her.
"It's been tense for the past few years," she said outside a Westminster polling station about the tight political race. "I've never seen anything like it."
British academics and political experts say that while the results Friday may show which party won the most parliamentary seats, if no party gets the 326 seats needed to win an overall majority, it may be several days or even weeks before it becomes clear which party will be able to form the next government.
Contributing: Katharine Lackey
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USA TODAY's Kim Hjelmgaard lists the five things you need to know about the United Kingdom's Election on Thursday. USA TODAY
To give readers a sense of the scene on election day, USA TODAY filmed 360-degree video at a London polling station. In the player below, use your mouse to browse the panorama.Note, the player is only viewable on desktop or mobile web versions of this story.
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Follow Kim Hjelmgaard, Jane Onyanga-Omara and Katharine Lackey on Twitter.
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