How to use the online timer
You are standing still with the ballot paper in front of you, waiting for the four-second countdown to finish before marking a single cross. That pause separates your final thought from the small movement of pencil on paper. Keep your hand clear of the box while the time runs, so the mark begins only when the signal ends.
With the ballot paper ready, a phone screen going dark can make the silent wait feel uncertain. The countdown normally continues even when the display switches off, so there is no need to tap the screen and interrupt your concentration. Listen for the finishing sound or vibration, then look back at the chosen box rather than trying to wake the phone while holding the pencil over the paper.
Once the signal has broken your pause, return directly to the exact box you had selected and make one clear cross. Avoid using the interruption as a reason to scan every name again, as that turns a short waiting point into a fresh decision. If your hand moved too soon, stop and check the mark before adding anything; if it moved late, the countdown has still served as a clean boundary between choosing and marking.
Common questions
What if marking one cross takes less than the allotted interval?
Let the brief interval finish before touching pencil to paper, even if the cross itself takes only a moment. Its purpose here is to separate the decision from the mark, not to measure your handwriting.
What if the ballot paper shifts and I need longer than the allotted interval?
Steady the paper first, then make the cross without rushing to match the expired countdown. A polling-station writing shelf or a folded postal ballot may change how quickly the paper can be held flat.
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