Declaration

The formal announcement of an election result.

Also used as: election declaration, result declaration, declared result, declaration of result

Source / explainer: Read Electoral Commission guidance

Last reviewed: 3 August 2026

A declaration is the formal announcement of the result of an election. In a parliamentary election, the Returning Officer or Acting Returning Officer announces the winning candidate and the vote totals once the count has been completed. The term often appears in reporting where a result has been declared.

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