We may not know the result of the general election for up to 24 hours after the polls have closed because at least 64 seats will not be counting votes until the Friday – and another 161 are considering following suit. Included in this shameful group is my own constituency, Watford.

The Electoral Commission is trying to justify this on that basis that

The worst-case scenario is the result being called into question because the count is inaccurate.

That has never, ever, been a problem before. And I can’t see how it would be if returning officers have half a brain and set up their processes properly. Plus, of course, parties have agents, activists and their candidates at counts in order to check that things are going right. And if the result is so close that a small amount of miscounting could change it, a recount can be called for.

Thursday night election results are an election tradition. It should not be disregarded.

We should be able to count votes both accurately and fast. We always have been able to do so in the past. So why is 2010 suddenly so different? Returning officers should be able to manage this, or they shouldn’t be doing the job.

I want to see the result of my vote being cast as soon as possible. Delay for the sake of delay is not acceptable. It should be a requirement that general election counts are held that evening.

Democracy demands it.