UK ELECTION RESULTS: DATE, TIME AND HOW TO CHECK LIVE COUNTING OF UK GENERAL ELECTIONS 2024

UK election results: The polling for general election in UK is underway today, July 4 (Thursday) with an estimated 46 million registered voters set to make their ballot count at 40,000 polling stations across the country.

The future of Rishi Sunak as Britain's Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party hangs in the balance as polling booths opened across the UK at 7 am local time. Voting for the UK general election 2024 at the booths will officially close at 10 pm local time.

As polling began in the United Kingdom today, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on people to vote for the Conservative Party and stop the supermajority of the Labour Party, which he stressed would result in higher taxes for a generation. Sunak also shared a picture of himself with his wife Akshata Murty from outside a polling station.

Taking to X, Sunak said, "The polls are open. Vote Conservative to stop the Labour supermajority which would mean higher taxes for a generation."

Polling stations in the United Kingdom opened for voting today at 7 am (local time) in historic snap general elections in the country.

Candidates are fielded for 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 326 parliamentary seats required for a majority in the first past the post system.

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UK election results date and time

Once the votes are cast and the booths officially close at 10 pm local time, the focus shifts to the definitive exit poll soon after which gives a fair snapshot of what can be expected UK-wide. Counting commences up and down the country right away, with the first results expected just before midnight local time, as per Independent report.

The first seats to declare are likely to be Blyth & Ashington at around 11.30 pm and Houghton & Sunderland South at around 11.45 pm. Both are in North East England and both are being defended by Labour.

Swindon South is likely to be the first battleground seat of the night to declare at around 12.15 am. Basildon & Billericay in Essex is another result due at around 12.15am.

Broxbourne in Hertfordshire is due at around 12.30am. East Kilbride & Strathaven, Hamilton & Clyde Valley and Rutherglen will provide a first indication of the patterns of voting in Scotland at 1 am.

By 4 am, enough results should be in to determine which party is on course to win the election and by what margin.

Among the final results to declare should be the London boroughs of Ilford North and Ilford South, both safe for Labour. It is scheduled at 6 am, as per Independent report.

UK election 2024 exit polls

After the polling stations close, the publication of joint exit polls from the BBC, ITV and Sky News will release the exit polls for the UK election 2024. It will offer the first clues as to how the night will unfold. At each of the past few elections, the exit poll has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result.

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UK Elections 2024: Where to watch LIVE coverage

Tune in to ET NOW, ET NOW Swadesh and Times Network for latest update of the UK election results. The coverage of UK election results will also be available in BBC, ITV, Sky News, Channel 4 and GB News.

UK Elections

The last general election was held in December 2019, when Boris Johnson won 365 seats, giving him an 80-seat majority. Labour won 202 seats, the Scottish National Party (SNP) 48, the Liberal Democrats 11, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) eight, Sinn Fein seven, Plaid Cymru four, the SDLP two, the Alliance party one, and the Greens one.

The UK has a five-year general election cycle and Sunak had until January 2025 to go to the polls but chose a surprise summer election when he named July 4 as the date in May.

It is the first time he is seeking the voters' mandate, having been chosen Tory leader and Britain's first Indian heritage Prime Minister by the party membership following political turmoil in October 2022. It is also the first test at the ballot box for Starmer, who took over from Jeremy Corbyn after Labour's defeat in 2019.

(With agency inputs)

2024-07-04T15:10:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd