When polls close, ballot boxes are taken to the count. Before a winner can be declared, election staff go through a controlled process of verification and counting.
Verification comes first
Ballot papers are verified so officials can account for the papers issued and received. This is distinct from deciding which candidate each ballot supports.
Counting the votes
At a First Past the Post election, valid ballot papers are sorted by candidate and counted. The Returning Officer is responsible for the count and ultimately declares the result.
What is a rejected ballot?
A ballot can be rejected if it does not satisfy the legal rules for a valid vote — for example where the voter’s intention cannot be established or the paper contains identifying information. The precise rules depend on the election.
Can candidates ask for a recount?
Candidates and their agents can request a recount. The Returning Officer decides whether a request is reasonable and can refuse one considered unreasonable.
Why are some declarations much later?
Constituencies vary in geography, electorate, counting arrangements and how close the result is. Verification, recounts and other local circumstances can all affect declaration time.
Different systems require different counts
Counting a Westminster FPTP contest is fundamentally different from counting STV in Northern Ireland or allocating proportional-list seats in Wales. Under STV, for example, preferences can be transferred through multiple counting stages.