Once the Returning Officer is satisfied there is a result, they will speak to the candidates and declare it.
The victorious and defeated candidates may then give thank-you speeches.
All votes, counterfoils and related paperwork are sealed and held in secure storage for a year before being destroyed.
If there is a challenge to the result or an allegation of wrongdoing that might affect the result, an election court (or the House of Commons) can order the boxes to be reopened and the ballots checked.
Any fraudulent votes can be deducted from a candidate's total. In some cases, an election can be rerun.
Useful links:
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Guide produced with the kind co-operation of Hartlepool Borough Council.
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