Rapid results: UK ballot counters braced for race to declare

Boundary changes, paper thickness and ace returning officer’s transfer could have a bearing on who declares first

One of the most notable quirks of a British election begins with the sound of running shoes squeaking on a sports hall’s varnished floor.

But balls and rackets are nowhere to be seen, because the activity is a lot more niche than the usual fare. It is part of the race to be the UK’s fastest election count – where ballot boxes filled with thousands of votes are opened, counted and collated before the result is declared less than 90 minutes after the last vote was cast.