More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Confused by the elections coming up in May?
Here is our political editor with everything you need to know about the county council election and “Super Thursday.”
Question: Can you vote?
Answer: Yes - provided you are on the electoral register in the area where you live. Registration closed on Monday.
Question: Who are we voting for?
Answer: The election is for the 81 councillors on Kent County Council. Those elected will be your representatives on the council for the next four years. The first-past-the-post system is used - the candidate with the most votes wins. Details of who is standing in each division - that is the equivalent of a ward - are available here.
Question: How can you vote?
Answer: You can vote in different ways. Polling stations will be open on May 6 from 7am until 10pm. You can vote by post- provided you apply for one before 5pm April 20. You can also apply for a proxy vote. That is where you nominate someone to vote on your behalf. The deadline for applying is April 27.
Question: Are there special arrangements because of Covid-19?
Answer: Yes. Polling stations will be made Covid-secure to protect the officials overseeing and organising the vote and social distancing will be in place. Voters are being encouraged to bring their own pencil or pens as they will not be supplied as they usually are. People are being encouraged to vote by post to limit the risks of possible transmission of the infection.
Question: When will we know the results?
Answer: Counting takes place on Friday May 7. Because of the need to make counting centres Covid secure, there is the possibility the results may be delayed. Some returning officers are making arrangements to use sprays to ‘decontaminate’ counting centres at regular intervals. KentOnline will be covering the election results with reaction and analysis.
Question: What other elections are taking place?
Answer: Elections are also taking place for the next Kent police and crime commissioner. The arrangements for these are the same as for the county council election but the counting of votes takes place on Monday 10 May.
The count will be run by Dartford council. There are three candidates for the role: Matthew Scott (Conservative); Graham Colley (Lib Dem) and Lola Oweyusi (Labour).
Two other councils are holding elections, which were due to take place last year but were postponed. Maidstone council and Tunbridge Wells council are holding elections but in each,only a third of seats are up for grabs. So, even if you live in these areas, you may not have a vote.
