Polling stations will be open to voters on Thursday for the high-profile snap by-election in Clacton, reports BritPanorama.
Voters will face a record number of candidates, yet prominent parties such as the Labour Party, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Restore Britain have opted not to contest this election.
Instead, constituents will have the option to vote for Reform UK, Count Binface, and a variety of independent candidates.
The by-election was initiated by the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, in response to parliamentary scrutiny of his financial affairs and supporters. Voting will occur on 13 August.
When does voting close?
Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm. The results are expected early on Friday morning.
However, with a total of 34 candidates—an unprecedented number for any parliamentary election—counting may extend beyond expectations, potentially delaying the results until 5am.
Will there be an exit poll?
Typically, an exit poll is conducted immediately after voters depart the polling station during general elections, but there will be no such poll for the Clacton by-election.
A recent survey by Survation for Mandate Research indicates that Mr Farage might secure 73 percent of the votes, while his closest contender, Count Binface, could attract around 20 percent.
In a separate Ipsos poll querying the general public’s preference in a hypothetical match-up, roughly one-third (33 percent) of British adults expressed support for Count Binface over the Reform UK leader, who garnered only 21 percent.
Full list of candidates for the Clacton constituency
- Joseph 77 (Independent)
- Adham Alkhatip (The Forward Party)
- Count Binface (Count Binface Party)
- Nick The Incredible Flying Brick (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Tony Cane (Independent)
- Woke Trump Carrzee (Independent)
- William Stuart James Clouston (Social Democratic Party)
- Rees Cowne (Independent)
- Glenn Charles Cummings (Independent)
- Martin Davies (Freedom Alliance – Real People, Real Alternative!)
- Andy Erlam (Independent)
- Nigel Farage (Reform UK)
- Attieh Fard (Independent)
- Laurence Fox (The Reclaim Party)
- Tony Francis (Independent)
- Robin Green (Independent)
- Abi Hookway (Independent)
- Howling Laud Hope (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Stephen Richard Ingram (Independent)
- Amy Morris (Independent)
- Derrick Norbert Morris (Independent)
- Michael Noel O’Keeffe (Independent)
- Martyn OBrien (Independent)
- Nick Pelas (Independent)
- Ketankumar Pipaliya (UK VOICE safer and stronger UK)
- Daniel Pocock (Independent)
- James Ransley (Consensus Party Candidate)
- Gerry Smith (Independent)
- Kai Stephens (British Democrats)
- John Stevens (Rejoin EU)
- Baron Von Thunderclap (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Pamela Walford (Independent)
- Marcus White (Everyone is God Party)
- Marc Wilkinson (Independent)
