Throughout the election campaign our BBC reporters have been learning more about the constituencies that make up Essex and which candidates are standing.

Constituencies (in alphabetical order):

• Basildon and Billericay
• Brentwood and Ongar
• Braintree
• Castle Point
• Chelmsford
• Clacton
• Colchester
• Epping Forest
• Harlow
• Harwich and North Essex
• Maldon
• North West Essex
• Rayleigh and Wickford
• South Basildon and East Thurrock
• Southend East and Rochford
• Southend West and Leigh
• Thurrock
• Witham

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

We're under way with the verification process here in Clacton as ballot boxes begin to arrive. We expect counting to get under way at 02:00.

Nigel Farage entered the contest here on the Essex coast for the Reform UK party and polls suggest he may become an MP after several failed attempts in other constituencies.

An exit poll for the BBC, ITV and Sky suggests there will be a landslide for Labour.

You’ve been submitting your questions via the BBC’s Your Voice, Your Vote.

Here’s a selection of what politicians had to say in response to questions asked in Essex:

• Saving local hospital at centre of election campaign
• Your Voice, Your Vote: Immigration centre could sway local voters
• 'Which party will ensure council's do not go bust?'
• 'How will my next MP fix a crisis in nursing?'
• Your Voice, Your Vote - your questions on pylons

Voting has been taking place throughout the day across the UK in the 2024 general election.

Join us after 22:00 for live coverage of all the results and reaction across the the 18 constituencies in Essex.

BBC Essex will have reporters at the counts and you can follow all the developments as they happen on this page.

You can find out more about how to follow the election on the rest of the BBC here.