WE’RE only hours away from knowing the results of the 2019 general election.
The outcome will shape how the country moves forward, and particularly, if and how Brexit will happen. Here’s what time we should find out.
When will the election results be announced?
Polling stations will close at 10pm today and the exit poll will be released at the same time.
After the final vote is cast, they will be carefully counted in two stages.
The process can take anything from a few hours to the rest of the night.
The winner is announced shortly after, in the early hours of the morning.
But some rural areas it will take much longer – and they will only start counting the next day.
The final results should be in by the end of Friday afternoon.
How can I follow the results live?
Sun Online will be keeping readers constantly up to date throughout the night with exit polls, results and reaction found on our general election 2019 live blog.
Major broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Sky News and Channel 4 are all covering the general election tonight and the results on Friday morning.
Each broadcaster will launch their programme just before the polls close at 10pm.
Coverage will continue throughout the night and into the early hours of the morning as the results are announced.
What happens if Boris Johnson gets a majority?
If Boris Johnson wins, he will continue as Prime Minister and the Conservative Party will be installed as a majority government,
The Prime Minister wanted the general election because he felt a new Parliament was needed in order to break the political checkmate over Brexit.
He hopes going to the polls will secure him a working majority, giving him the power to “get Brexit done”.
With Mr Johnson presenting himself as the politician who can get Brexit done, he hopes to be more popular with leave
What happens if there’s a hung parliament?
The party with the most seats can choose two options in the event there is no majority: form a coalition with at least one other party;or rule as aminority government.
If the party with the most votes decides to rule as a minority – as did theToriesin 2017 – they will be reliant on the support of at least one smaller party to pass legislature through Parliament.
If both options fail, Parliament can be dissolved and a fresh election called.
What does it mean for Brexit?
A hung parliament will likely spell more Brexit delays as the parties try to negotiate a stable government to take the country forward.
When Theresa May called a snap election in 2017 it cost her her majority and saw the Tories join forces with the DUP in a confidence-and-supply agreement.
Boris Johnson seems to be confident that by calling an election he can win back a Tory majority.
This would allow him to successfully get his Brexit deal over the line due to the support he has around him.
But if there is no majority, there will be yet more political wrangling over what will happen next.
