What happens on election night and when the crucial results are announced
Here's what to expect on the night of the Thursday, July 4 poll.
Millions of people will be glued to the TV on Thursday as election results are announced, with coverage continuing through the early hours and into Friday afternoon. Here’s what to expect:
7am
Polls open but television broadcasters have to follow strict rules while voting takes place and can’t report campaign news. However, we will see footage of the party leaders heading to polling stations.
10pm
Everything changes once voting stops and the broadcasters publish the results of an exit poll - a survey of thousands of people taken just after they voted, overseen by polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice. This will provide an early indication of who has won, and how much by.
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11.30pm
Counting will continue overnight but the first results could come as soon as 11.30pm, with constituencies in Northumberland or Sunderland likely to be the first to declare.
2am
The result in Rochdale, where Left-wing firebrand George Galloway is battling to hold his seat, is due around this time.
3.30am
A number of key declarations are expected including Godalming and Ash, where Chancellor Jeremy Hunt could be defeated. Potential leadership candidate Penny Mordaunt could be in trouble in her Portsmouth North constituency and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps could lose his Welwyn Hatfield seat.
4am
The result in Rishi Sunak’s constituency of Richmond and Northallerton is expected. He will attend the count and may say a few words. There’s been speculation that he could actually lose his seat but that shocking result is unlikely.
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4am
Other constituencies to look out for around the same time include Braintree, where Home Secretary James Cleverly is in danger of losing his seat, and Clacton, where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hopes to become an MP.
4.15am
Sir Keir Starmer will make an appearance in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency as the result is announced.
6.30am
The final results should trickle in.
Late morning
If Conservatives have won the election then Rishi Sunak’s government simply carries on. The King does not ask a sitting Prime Minister to remain in office.
However, if Labour has won, then Mr Sunak will resign and the King will ask Sir Keir Starmer to form an administration.
Sir Keir will then arrive in Downing Street in triumph and deliver a speech outside the famous door to Number 10.