Medway is going to the polls today in council elections that could see the county’s political map redrawn.

Voters will also be deciding whether to back plans to change the way in which MPs are elected, with a referendum on whether the current first past thee post system should be replaced with the alternative vote.

All 55 seats across 22 wards on Medway Council are being contested.

Across Kent, a total of 517 council seats are up for grabs. The Conservatives currently hold power in every single Kent council but their dominance is under a challenge from Labour, which is targeting Dover, Thanet and Gravesham.

There are all-out elections in 12 councils while a third of council seats are up for grabs in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

The results will be watched carefully by the three main parties as they are the first comprehensive test of public opinion since the general election.

The first results should come through early tomorrow morning, with a handful of councils opting for overnight counts. They include Medway, Shepway and Thanet.

Polling stations will close at 10pm but before the council election votes could be counted, the AV referendum slips have to be sorted out.

Counting in Medway is not expected to start until 2am tomorrow.

With 55 seats being fought for across 22 wards, the final declarations were predicted to be made at around 6am.

Counting will continue at Medway Park this evening. Election officials will return to determine the outcome of the referendum and declare two parish council elections.

Most other councils will hold their counts on Friday, which is also when the AV referendum votes will also be counted.