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| By-election stage collapse fears | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The 26 candidates in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election will not share a stage at the count after fears it could collapse under their combined weight. | |
| Election results are normally announced from a temporary stage at the Haltemprice Leisure Centre. | |
| But the candidates in Thursday's poll will stand on the floor in a semi-circle around a small platform with the returning officer on it. | |
| Voting is under way in the contest with polls closing at 2200BST. | |
| The contest was triggered the resignation of Conservative MP David Davis. | |
| A record 26 candidates - including Mr Davis - are standing. | |
| Speeches | |
| Labour and the Lib Dems are not taking part, but the Green Party, English Democrats and Christian Party are. | Labour and the Lib Dems are not taking part, but the Green Party, English Democrats and Christian Party are. |
| But the high number of candidates has created a headache for the returning officer. | |
| "We were worried we wouldn't have a stage that could hold them, both width and weight wise," said a spokeswoman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council. | |
| "We weren't certain we could make it big enough. We just decided it would make more sense to have one small stage with one person on it at a time." | |
| The 26 candidates will all be entitled to make a speech when the results have been announced, but the returning officer is expected to have a quiet word about keeping it brief, the spokeswoman said. | |
| Turnout | |
| Some 70,100 people can vote in the East Yorkshire constituency. The result is expected during the early hours of Friday. | |
| Turnout is anticipated to be lower than the 70.1% achieved at the last general election in 2005, with the weather forecast to be a mixture of sunshine and showers. | Turnout is anticipated to be lower than the 70.1% achieved at the last general election in 2005, with the weather forecast to be a mixture of sunshine and showers. |
| At the last general election Mr Davis won the seat with a 5,116 majority over the Liberal Democrats. | At the last general election Mr Davis won the seat with a 5,116 majority over the Liberal Democrats. |
| Labour came third, followed by the British National Party and the UK Independence Party. | Labour came third, followed by the British National Party and the UK Independence Party. |
| The candidates are: | The candidates are: |
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