How to use the online alarm clock
As you hand the constituency vote count to the next member of the team, an alarm for 1:55 am can mark the exact point for them to begin after the polls have closed. It leaves five minutes before 2:00 am, enough for a brief handover covering the tally sheets, doubtful papers and who is recording each total.
Because the alarm may be waiting longer than the computer stays awake, check the power settings before relying on it during the change of shift. Keep this page open and the computer awake, with the volume set high enough for the incoming counter to hear. If the computer sleeps or the page is closed before 1:55 am, the vote count will receive no alarm signal, so a separate clock is sensible where the handover cannot be delayed.
Once counting starts at this hour, protect a little space before the next task later that day. Note when the figures must be passed on, then allow time for checking totals, packing paperwork and travelling home after the night shift. A written reminder beside the tally sheets can keep that later commitment visible without distracting anyone while numbers are being verified.
Common questions
What happens if my laptop goes to sleep before 1:55 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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