The drama of the General Election night count looks set to continue in Bradford after a decision about how the votes are counted.

Bradford Council’s chief executive and acting returning officer Tony Reeves has announced the plans for this year’s Parliamentary election, which must be held by June, and the local election which is already scheduled for Thursday, May 6.

In recent years district election counts have taken place the day after the polls closed, with the earliest declarations taking place around lunchtime.

However, Mr Reeves has determined that the counting of this year’s General Election ballot papers will take place as soon as possible after polling stations close at 10pm. It is then likely the results for the five constituencies in the Bradford district will be declared by early the next morning.

In the event of both elections being held together on May 6, the counting of votes for the Bradford Council elections will not start until the afternoon of Friday, May 7 – with the results expected later that day.

Counts will be carried out at two venues – Richard Dunn Sports Centre for the constituencies and wards in Bradford East, South and West and Keighley Leisure Centre for those in Keighley and Shipley.

Mr Reeves said: “I am confident that these arrangements will permit the earliest practical declarations, balanced with the need for me to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the process.”

The news follows a Council motion in December in which councillors called for General Election night counts to be saved from the “bureaucratic convenience” of votes being counted the following day. It stated that the interests of democracy were best served if the results of all elections were confirmed as soon as possible.

So far the confirmed prospective parliamentary candidates are: Bradford East (which replaces the Bradford North constituency due to boundary changes): Mohammed Riaz (Con), Terry Rooney MP (Lab), and David Ward (Lib Dem); Bradford South: Mike Doyle (Lib Dem), Matt Palmer (Con) and Gerry Sutcliffe MP (Lab); Bradford West: Mukhtar Ali (Lib Dem), Zahid Iqbal (Con) and Marsha Singh MP (Lab); Keighley: Nader Fekri (Lib Dem), Kris Hopkins (Con) and Stephanie Jane Thomas (Lab); Shipley: Philip Davies MP (Con), John Harris (Lib Dem), Susan Hinchcliffe (Lab) and Kevin Warnes (Green).

A number of the prospective candidates are sitting councillors on Bradford Council, including Council and Conservative group leader Kris Hopkins, Liberal Democrat deputy group leader David Ward, Wharfedale Conservative Matt Palmer and Shipley Green Kevin Warnes. Only Councillor Ward’s Council seat is up for election this year.

Council bosses are due to discuss protocols for councillors also standing as parliamentary candidates this week to avoid any potential conflict.