Election Night Pack

Five ready-to-use templates for covering UK election night — a live-blog template, results-checking log, fact-check tracker, moderation policy, and exit poll embargo statement.

Last reviewed: 13 June 2026Next review due: 13 December 2026

Note:These are templates — adapt them to your newsroom's systems and the specific election. Not legal advice. The exit poll restriction under RPA 1983 s.66A carries criminal penalties — confirm your understanding with your editor or legal team before election night.

Who this pack is for

This pack is for UK journalists and desk teams covering general elections, by-elections, or local elections live. It covers the operational workflow for the night — from pre-poll-close restrictions through to results verification, fact-checking, comment moderation, and closing summaries.

Templates are built around the Representation of the People Act 1983 s.66A exit poll restriction, Ofcom Broadcasting Code Section 6, and Electoral Commission guidance.

What’s in this pack

Five templates — copy, adapt, and use on the night.

Live-Blog Template

Structured entry format from pre-poll-close through exit poll, declarations, and closing summary.

Results-Checking Log

Tracks source, verification method, and publish time for every constituency reported.

Fact-Check Tracker

Records claims made during the night with verdicts and verification sources.

Moderation Policy

Pre-agreed removal criteria and escalation process for live-blog comments and embeds.

Exit Poll Embargo Statement

Internal notice covering the RPA 1983 s.66A restriction and release protocol.

Template 1: Live-Blog Template

Use this structure for every entry from polls opening through to the final results summary.

ELECTION NIGHT LIVE-BLOG TEMPLATE

Event: [ELECTION NAME/DATE]
Blog opens: [TIME] | Polls close: 10:00pm | Exit poll release: 10:00pm sharp

STRUCTURE FOR EACH ENTRY
[TIME STAMP] — [HEADLINE PHRASE]
[1-3 sentence factual update]
Source: [RETURNING OFFICER / PA MEDIA / BBC-ITV-SKY EXIT POLL / PARTY STATEMENT]
Verification status: [CONFIRMED / DEVELOPING / UNVERIFIED — do not publish unverified as fact]

PRE-10PM ENTRIES (BEFORE POLLS CLOSE)
[ ] Scene-setting: turnout reports, queue reports (factual, no result speculation)
[ ] Explainer: how results will be declared and expected timings
[ ] REMINDER: No exit poll data, forecasts, or "how people voted" statements permitted before 10:00pm (RPA 1983 s.66A)

10:00PM — EXIT POLL RELEASE
[TIME] Exit poll published: [BBC/ITV/Sky joint exit poll figures]
Caveat line (include every time): "This is a forecast based on a sample of polling stations, not a result."

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT — PER-CONSTITUENCY DECLARATION
[TIME] [CONSTITUENCY NAME] declares: [WINNING CANDIDATE], [PARTY] — majority [FIGURE]
Swing: [CALCULATION] | Turnout: [FIGURE]%
Source: Returning officer declaration / PA Media wire

KEY MOMENTS TO FLAG
[ ] First result of the night
[ ] Bellwether seats declaring
[ ] Any recount announced
[ ] Party leader's own seat result
[ ] Projected overall result / government formation once clear

CLOSING SUMMARY (once count substantially complete)
[TIME] Overview paragraph: overall result, seats won by party, turnout, key upsets.

Editorial note: every entry must be independently timestamped and sourced. Do not amend past entries to "predict" what has since happened — add corrections as new timestamped entries.

Template 2: Results-Checking Log

Track every declared result against its source and verification method before publishing.

RESULTS-CHECKING LOG

Election: [NAME] | Date: [DATE]
Reporter/desk: [NAME]

For each constituency/ward reported, log:

| Constituency | Declared time | Source | Verification method | Published time | Verified by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [NAME] | [TIME] | [Returning officer / PA Media / broadcaster pool] | [Direct confirmation / cross-checked against 2nd source] | [TIME] | [INITIALS] |

VERIFICATION RULES
[ ] Never publish a declared winner based on a single unconfirmed social media post
[ ] Cross-check PA Media wire figures against the local returning officer statement where possible
[ ] Flag any recount, legal challenge, or void result clearly and update the log
[ ] Record any correction made after initial publication, with time and reason

DISCREPANCY HANDLING
If two sources disagree on a result:
1. Do not publish either figure as confirmed
2. Mark status as "DISPUTED — confirming" in the live blog
3. Contact the returning officer's office directly if possible
4. Only publish once one source is confirmed as authoritative (typically the returning officer)

END OF NIGHT RECONCILIATION
[ ] Cross-check full published results list against PA Media/BBC results service
[ ] Correct any discrepancies with a clearly marked correction, not a silent edit
[ ] Archive this log for the newsroom record

Template 3: Fact-Check Tracker

Log claims made by candidates, parties, or commentators during the night and their verified status.

ELECTION NIGHT FACT-CHECK TRACKER

Election: [NAME] | Date: [DATE]

For each claim requiring a check:

| Claim | Made by | Platform/context | Status | Verdict | Checked by | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [CLAIM TEXT] | [CANDIDATE/PARTY/COMMENTATOR] | [Speech / social media / interview] | [Checking / Verified / False / Misleading / Needs context] | [SUMMARY] | [INITIALS] | [TIME] |

PRIORITY CLAIMS TO TRACK
[ ] Claims about turnout figures before official confirmation
[ ] Claims about postal vote or counting irregularities
[ ] Claims of victory before official declaration
[ ] Viral social media claims about specific constituencies
[ ] Statistical claims about swing, historic comparisons, or polling accuracy

VERIFICATION SOURCES TO USE
- Electoral Commission (electoralcommission.org.uk) — process and rules verification
- PA Media wire — result and turnout confirmation
- Returning officer statements — constituency-level facts
- ONS / House of Commons Library — historical comparison data

PUBLISHING FACT-CHECKS
[ ] Publish verdicts as standalone, clearly labelled entries in the live blog
[ ] Link back to the original claim where practical
[ ] Do not amend the fact-check tracker retroactively — log corrections as new entries with timestamp

Template 4: Moderation Policy

Agree these removal criteria and escalation steps with your team before the live blog opens.

ELECTION NIGHT LIVE-BLOG MODERATION POLICY

Effective for: [ELECTION NAME/DATE] coverage
Applies to: comments, embedded social posts, and reader submissions on the live blog

PRE-AGREED REMOVAL CRITERIA
[ ] Premature or false claims of victory before official declaration
[ ] Unverified allegations of electoral fraud without evidence
[ ] Content that identifies or harasses individual voters, poll workers, or candidates' families
[ ] Hate speech or content that may breach the Online Safety Act 2023 illegal content duties
[ ] Spam, bot-generated content, or coordinated inauthentic activity
[ ] Content in breach of RPA 1983 s.66A (published statements about how people have voted, or forecasts, before polls close)

ESCALATION PROCESS
1. Moderator on duty: [NAME/ROLE]
2. First-level removal: any team member can remove content matching the above criteria
3. Escalate to duty editor for: legal risk, high-profile individuals, ambiguous cases
4. Legal read required for: any allegation of electoral fraud or candidate wrongdoing before verification

DUE IMPARTIALITY (BROADCAST-LINKED CONTENT ONLY)
[ ] Curated or promoted reader comments must not systematically favour one party or candidate
[ ] Balance is assessed across the whole night's coverage, not per individual post
[ ] Reference: Ofcom Broadcasting Code Section 6 (elections and referendums)

RECORD-KEEPING
[ ] Log all significant removals with time, reason, and moderator initials
[ ] Retain removed content internally for at least [RETENTION PERIOD] in case of dispute
[ ] Report to editor any pattern of coordinated abuse or disinformation for a wider editorial response

Template 5: Exit Poll Embargo Statement

Circulate this internal notice to every staff member working election night before polls close.

EXIT POLL EMBARGO STATEMENT — INTERNAL NEWSROOM NOTICE

Election: [NAME] | Polls close: 10:00pm on [DATE]

LEGAL RESTRICTION
Under Section 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, it is a criminal offence to publish, before the close of poll:
— any statement about the way in which voters have voted at the election, where that statement is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on information given by voters after they have voted; or
— any forecast, so far as the forecast is (or might reasonably be taken to be) based on such information, including an exit poll.

THIS MEANS, BEFORE 10:00PM:
[ ] No exit poll figures, partial or full, may be published in any form (article, social media, broadcast, push notification)
[ ] No informal "sense of the mood" reporting suggesting how voting is trending
[ ] No republishing or screenshotting embargoed broadcaster exit poll data
[ ] Journalists attending exit poll briefings under embargo must not share details with colleagues outside the embargo group

WHAT IS PERMITTED BEFORE 10:00PM
[ ] Factual reporting on turnout, queues, polling station operations
[ ] Historical/contextual pieces not based on real-time voter information
[ ] Opinion polls conducted and published before polling day (these are not covered by s.66A)

RELEASE PROTOCOL
[ ] Exit poll may be published the instant polls close at 10:00pm — confirm your newsroom clock against an authoritative time source
[ ] All coverage must include the caveat: "This is a forecast based on a sample of polling stations, not a declared result."
[ ] Any breach must be reported immediately to the editor and legal team

Sign-off: all newsroom staff working election night must confirm they have read this notice.
Name: _______________________ Date: ___________

Primary sources

Ofcom Broadcasting Code Section 6 — elections and referendums due impartiality rules
BBC Election Guidelines — internal editorial standards for election coverage
Electoral Commission — rules, results data, and regulatory guidance
Representation of the People Act 1983, s.66A — exit poll and forecast publication restriction
Reuters — wire verification standard for breaking election results

Frequently asked questions

Can I report exit poll results before polls close in the UK?

No. Section 66A of the Representation of the People Act 1983 makes it a criminal offence to publish any statement about how people have voted, or any forecast based on such information, before polls close at 10pm. This applies to exit polls commissioned by broadcasters as well as informal predictions. The exit poll embargo statement in this pack sets out the exact restriction for your newsroom.

What does Ofcom require of broadcasters during election periods?

Ofcom Broadcasting Code Section 6 requires due impartiality in coverage of elections and referendums, including proportionate airtime for major parties and candidates, and special care around constituency-level reporting where a candidate could be identified as more newsworthy than opponents. Broadcasters must also observe the "purdah" restrictions on new policy announcements by government during the campaign period.

How should I handle unverified results being shared on social media on election night?

Treat all declarations as unverified until confirmed by the returning officer or a wire source (PA Media, Reuters). Never publish a result based solely on a photo or claim posted to social media without independent confirmation. Use the results-checking log in this pack to record the source, time, and verification method for every constituency you report.

What is "purdah" and does it affect journalists?

Purdah, more formally the pre-election period, restricts what government departments and local authorities can announce or publish in the run-up to an election, to avoid the appearance of using public resources for party advantage. It does not restrict journalists directly, but it affects what official sources will confirm or comment on, and understanding it helps you interpret unusual silence from officials during the campaign.

Do I need a moderation policy for live-blog comments on election night?

Yes, if your live blog accepts reader comments or embeds social media content. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, platforms and publishers hosting user comments have duties to manage illegal content, and election night coverage is a known vector for disinformation and abuse. The moderation policy template in this pack sets out pre-agreed rules for removing content, and Ofcom Section 6 due impartiality applies to any curated reader content you promote.