How to use the online alarm clock
While preparing to start the vote count after polling stations close, set the alarm for 1:09 am before the boxes, tally sheets and staff demand your attention. It gives you a clear cue to move from final checks to counting, while 2:00 am remains a useful later checkpoint for recording progress or arranging the next staff break.
Because the count may take you between the counting floor, reception and secure storage, leave this alarm running in the browser you used to set it and keep the computer awake. If that browser is closed or the computer goes to sleep, the alarm will not sound to prompt the vote count. Check the volume beforehand, then place the computer where the signal can be heard without distracting staff who are reading ballot papers.
Once ballot boxes are open and people have settled into repetitive work, a warm counting room can become uncomfortable even during the British night. At 1:09 am, check whether the air conditioning is aimed straight at seated staff or leaving one part of the room noticeably colder. A moderate setting, with vents directed away from desks and papers, helps keep the space comfortable without loose ballot papers shifting in the airflow.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 1:09 am?
The tab sleeps along with it and the alarm will not sound on time, if at all. If you are relying on it, change the power settings so the machine stays awake, or keep a phone alarm running as well.
Do I need an account or an app?
Neither. Choose a time and a sound, press Start, and it runs in this browser tab. Nothing is downloaded, nothing is registered, and closing the page leaves nothing behind on the device.
Can I change the sound?
Yes, there is a short list of tones to pick from before you press Start. Softer sounds are easy to sleep through, so a firmer bell tends to be the safer choice for anything early in the morning.
Will it still be right when the clocks change?
Yes. It reads your device's local clock, so the move between GMT and BST at the end of March and October is picked up automatically, as long as the computer's date, time and time zone are set correctly.
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