** Official MN Election Night Thread - let's hold hands and wait together **

[MmeLindt]

Just starting this so that we can all post our thoughts throughout the day.

My wish for today is that as many people as possible GO OUT AND VOTE.

I cannot vote as I have been living abroad for over 15 years so if anyone wants to vote for me, I would like to vote for Gordon Brown. Voting by MN proxy

Just 3 little words for the BNP

I will either be celebrating later with champagne, or drowning my sorrows with whatever I can get hold of...either way I will deffo get wasted tonight....it's been a hard week.

Now you're asking... If it's a straight Tory win (first past the post - over half the number of seats and an outright majority) then they start work straight away on Friday. Brown moves out, Cameron moves in. . If it's a hung Parliament, there could be up to a week of deal-making with the Lib Dems to form a government.

Parliament Sorry, but thank you for your answers. x
Must go now, that slip of paper won't tick itself.
BBL

ahhh now someone linked to a website the other day on a thread that showed the approximate times that counts are expected to be in from all the constituencies - can't remember where it is though

I saw that tocc - might have posted on the thread so will have a look.

online you can always put bbc news live in a separate window and carry on mn-ing.

updated weather forecast (or if you want a proper weather forecast check out met office

I know I posted on the thread............but I'm not sure which thread it was as I'm on lots

bugger - going to need to sort out my speakers..........can't remember which cables went in which holes so have been without sound since I moved grrr

SilveryMoon - Don't TICK the box! you have to put an X or it's invalid. or did I miss the joke

toccataandfudge The expected declaration times are here

Where I am from the elections are always on a Sunday, so people have the time to vote. My parents were asking whether we are getting a day off just to vote, as it is a Thursday after all. Bless them!

can't find it either TF

actually it's totally non scientific - but if you're on facebook they've got a "xxxxxx" number of people have voted at the top which is updating automatically as (obviously only the people that are on facebook and some of them could be clicking for the hell of it) people click to say they've voted.

It's curently up to 170,000

oh well done LadyA

Just marking my place for later, will go with DH and 3xDs' when he comes in from work. We're in an exceptionaly marginal seat so it's quite exciting. As darling DH has just been made redundant (he's a primary school teacher FFS), if labour (education etc anyone?) stay in I will be throwing stuff. Can't decide whether to stay up and watch the whole thing, anyone else going to?

MY DS (5.5) has been quite excited about the election, especially when his teacher explained that the school hall was being used as a polling station. Came home and told me all about it.

I explained that Mummy would be voting, but not at the school, so he then said "well, I'll be voting at the school. what do I need to do Mummy?"!!! He really thought he had the vote.

Anyone else planning a pre-results disco nap?

Oh. I don't know, I've never done it before! Thanks for the heads-up on the x not a tick
Really am going now

yes Inmyhead!!!! otherwise I'll be a wreck. I shall have a nap after lunch.

Tick is fine all you have to do is make a mark wholly in a box that clearly shows your voting intention.

Silverymoon - good luck... report back?!

I have been at counts where we have debated whether a willy shows a clear voting intention. I'm still undecided on that one myself.

Oh I am so ridiculously excited and I've been sent loads of emails that need attention. I can't concentrate on them - don't they know theres an election going on????

have added my 0.049's worth
it is drizzly here, (can't understand why rain would put people off but still)
There was a steady but light flow of people and a libdem and con rep welcoming us in. I gave the con woman my card to sort out and the libdem a smile that I hoped conveyed hope and sympathy to her. Mostly sympathy tbh.
I have heard nothing from Labour whatsoever, or anyone else and am of those who have received lots from everyone. Even the Tories can't be arsed as they are ultra safe here.
I think I'll watch the channel 4 one and flick every now and then. I don't intend to see it through to the bitter end though.

I am going to vote once DS2 wakes up from his nap. I am trying to decide what to do about the results - I could go to bed really early, then once DS2 wakes up for his feed (he's 5 months) I could stay up and watch the results - it's normally around 2.30 I have to feed him and that will probably be a pretty interesting time.
Or do I just try and get as much sleep as I can and wait for the morning (DH is off on a 4-day/3 night stag weekend tomorrow so I will be on my own with 2 kids for the whole long weekend and will need lots of energy). What's more important - sleep or seeing the results live??

OhYouBadKitten - feel exactly the same. Didn't know that about marking the ballot paper. V. interesting.