The count for the Clacton by-election is set to begin at 22:00 BST on Thursday, following the close of polling booths. With 34 candidates standing for a single parliamentary seat, this election has the most candidates in British electoral history.
The ballot paper, which is nearly a metre long, is also the longest in British electoral history. This is expected to lengthen the time required for the count compared to most parliamentary elections.
The result is not anticipated until between 05:00 and 07:00 on Friday, due to the slower counting process. In 2024, the general election result for Clacton was announced around 04:00, but that election had only nine candidates.
Larger table areas have been arranged at Clacton Leisure Centre to accommodate the long ballot papers for verification, sorting, and counting. The 34 candidates will line up on the sports hall floor for the result announcement, as a sufficiently large and strong stage could not be found.