Important information – county council election, 1 May

Elections for Kent County Council (KCC) take place on Thursday 1 May and as usual it is our job to manage this election in the Canterbury district.

There are eight KCC divisions in our district and a county councillor is elected in each one. Details of the candidates will be published on Wednesday 2 April, in the late afternoon.

Poll cards for this election start being distributed today (Friday 21 March).

The appearance of these poll cards has now changed. Instead of an A5 piece of paper, which many people will be used to, the poll card will now arrive in an envelope – pictured on this post.

This is because the amount of information we are required to provide to voters has increased to the extent that an A5 piece of paper is no longer big enough.

Poll cards are sent to all those who are eligible to vote in the KCC election on 1 May.

If you are not currently on the Electoral Register, you have until Friday 11 April to register.

If you are unsure if you are registered, you can check by calling our Elections team on 01227 862007.

If you require a postal vote for the election, the deadline to apply is Monday 14 April at 5pm.

Postal votes will start to be sent out from Tuesday 15 April.

If you require a proxy vote for the election, the deadline to apply is Wednesday 23 April at 5pm.

Authorised voter identification will be required for anyone voting in person at a polling station on 1 May. You can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, a form of photo ID, by 23 April at 5pm.

Polling stations will be open between the normal hours of 7am and 10pm on 1 May.

The count will then take place during the day on Friday 2 May with results published on KCC’s website.

Published: 21 March 2025