Voters will be heading to the polls in May for an unprecedented set of council elections in which more than 550 seats will be up for grabs.

Candidates across the political spectrum will be vying for support in all 12 district and borough councils - with ‘all out’ elections in 10 of these. And an election also takes place in Medway Council.

Here, political editor Paul Francis runs through all you need to know about Kent's "Super Thursday".

Why are so many elections taking place on the same day?

It’s true that the normal electoral cycle has changed significantly; ordinarily, we would see only some councils staging elections in Kent at this particular point in time.

The reason is that there are boundary changes across the county and these have reshaped the local authority map, with changes to some wards in council areas and in others, changes to the number of councillors.

Where are elections taking place?

All 12 district and borough councils, along with Medway council, are holding elections on Thursday, May 4.

Most are what are called ‘all out’ elections in which every ward is being contested.

There are two exceptions: in Tunbridge Wells council and Maidstone council, where a third of wards are being contested.

Polls take place in Ashford; Canterbury; Dartford; Dover; Folkestone; Gravesham; Maidstone; Sevenoaks; Swale; Tonbridge and Malling; Tunbridge Wells and Thanet.

Why aren't there county council elections?

Elections took place in May 2021 under new boundary changes.

'The Conservatives remain the dominant force in Kent...'

What’s at stake in these elections?

Primarily, they are supposed to be about what voters think about the quality of different services they provide to residents; from parking to planning applications to rubbish collections.

Inevitably, however, they are also seen as a litmus test of public opinion on national politics and a verdict on the government’s record.

How do you get a vote?

You have to be on the electoral register of the council area you live in to qualify for a vote.

There is still time to apply to be on that register; the deadline is April 17.

Get in touch with your local council or go to the Electoral Commission website.

You must be over the age of 18 and either a UK citizen; an Irish or EU citizen living in the UK; a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission.

Do you need to show any ID in order to vote?

Yes - if you intend to vote at a polling station, you will now need to show some form of photo ID.

The introduction of this requirement has caused some concern with warnings that voters may not have realised they now need ID or will not have a photo which meets the necessary standard.

If you don’t have some form of ID - such as a passport or driving licence, you can apply for what is known as a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) instead but you must have registered to vote before you apply.

Your local council will have details on how to get a VAC.

How do you find out about candidates standing?

Deadline for nominating candidates is April 4 5pm; details of candidates and which party they represent will be published online by the council the following day.

When does voting take place?

Polling stations will be open on May 4 between 7am and 10pm.

However, you can apply for a postal vote - the deadline for that is Tuesday April 19. Contact your local council for details and how to apply.

'There has been a surge in support for independent councillors...'

When are the results declared?

The count will take place on Friday starting at 10am.

There should be enough counts completed by mid-to-late afternoon to see what - if any - changes in council control there have been.

What is the current political make-up of councils?

The Conservatives remain the dominant force in Kent but in recent years have lost outright control of some councils and will be apprehensive about their prospects in others.

Across Kent, and on the basis of results in the most recent election, they have 325 councillors compared to 120 for Labour; the Liberal Democrats have 45 and the Green Party 23.

There has also been a surge in support for independent councillors.

When it comes to council control, the Conservatives have working majorities in Ashford; Dover; Folkestone; Dartford; Canterbury; Tonbridge and Malling; Sevenoaks and Maidstone; Labour is in control at Thanet and Gravesham; while Swale and Tunbridge Wells are both run by a coalition, led respectively by an independent and a Liberal Democrat, with the Conservatives the official opposition.