After six weeks of campaigning (and three weeks of Concrete coverage!), we have arrived. Exactly where we have arrived is the question that lies on the other side of a very long, potentially tumultuous night ahead. For those who fancy their chances at staying awake to witness a true ‘shake-up’ in British politics; best of luck!

What the polls suggest is unprecedented. In the last YouGov poll released yesterday evening, it was speculated that Labour was likely to win 431 seats. This would result in a 212-seat majority (with the Conservatives as the second largest party at 109) and, subsequently, the largest landslide victory of any party since 1832. Such polling has prompted even some Conservative candidates to effectively concede defeat, with Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, stating that it was ‘highly unlikely’ that the polls were wrong. However, this does not necessarily denote a dull election night, with the scale of the surmised Labour majority being one of the most telling factors of how the next government will be run. It must also be acknowledged that polling is no exact sport and that the election remains, as ever, anyone’s game.

It is due to this undetermined nature that we at Concrete urge you to vote. Polling stations opened this morning at 7 am and remain open until 10 pm this evening. Remember, a valid form of ID is essential.

At 10 pm we can also expect an exit poll, which is taken directly from voters leaving the polling station. This has been proven to be the most accurate poll, and in recent years, the estimated results have been exceptionally close to the final outcome. It is as we receive the news of the exit poll that the count begins. We can expect candidates across the UK to gather in count centres and watch as local council workers proceed to total the votes before them. As the first result comes in at around 11:30 pm, so will begin a highly anticipated night.

The first wave of results are usually from smaller constituencies who compete to be a ‘top 10’ count (yes – this is an actual thing!). From here, it is hard to predict exactly where and when the rest of the results will feed into the national database; however, we can expect a slow but steady trickle of results between 12.30 AM and 3 AM, with around 80 seats being declared during this time period in 2019. From 3 AM onwards, an ‘onslaught’ of more closely contested and highly anticipated results will ping onto our screens for the remainder of the morning. At around 4 AM, we will likely have a very good idea of which party will be forming the next government. An official final result of the national vote is likely to be announced tomorrow lunchtime.

Those of us who choose to forgo the comforts of bed will have various all-night viewing options. For many, the BBC reaffirms its place as the ‘national broadcaster’ on election night, with an average of 4.7 million tuning into BBC 1 during the 2019 General Election night coverage—peaking at 6.1 million between 10.05 pm and 10.10 pm as the Exit poll results were announced. Tonight’s BBC coverage will be hosted by the BBC’s former Political Editor, Laura Kuennesburg and popular News anchor, Clive Myrie, from 9.55 PM on BBC 1 and the BBC News channel.

ITV has traditionally followed in a distant second—receiving an average of 1.4 million views in 2019—however, Sky claimed to have reached 2.7 million viewers through its two separate channels dedicated to election coverage in the last GE. Both broadcasters hope to top one another again, with coverage from 9 PM and 9.55 PM, respectively.

Channel 4, known for its ‘Alternative Election Night’ coverage, saw a significant drop in viewing figures in 2019, down to 244,000 from a high of over half a million in 2017. The public service broadcaster has high hopes this year, however, with the popular hosts of ‘The Rest is Politics’ podcast – Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewert – joining Krishnan Guru-Murphy and Emily Maitlis from 9.45 PM, with special guest appearances from the cast of Gogglebox.

Whatever you will be doing this evening, it promises to be a fascinating night for the nation as the results of one of the most significant general elections in modern political history are revealed. Suppose you’re not braving the whole of the night. In that case, you’ll most likely wake up to a very good idea of who will form the new national government of the United Kingdom—expected to be predicted at around 7 AM on Friday morning.

Concrete’s Co-Editors-in-Chief Fiona and Jamie will join fellow UEA students at BarSU from 9 p.m. this evening, asking them how they feel about voting for the first time and who they think will win. If you are in Norwich, feel free to come and join us! Keep an eye on our Instagram for updates.