News Prepare to vote in May local elections

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) will be holding its next local elections on Thursday 2 May 2024. This year’s elections will be the first on the Council’s new whole council election cycle, so all 49 Borough Councillors and Parish Councils will be up for election at the same time. The elections will also include voting for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner.

There have been changes to ward boundaries across the borough which means the number of borough councillors has reduced from 55 to 49. The Council has moved to whole council elections so rather than electing a third of councillors at a time, all seats will be up for election this May, and it will be four years until the next planned Borough elections.

Everyone is encouraged to vote and is being reminded to bring a form of photo ID with them to vote in a polling station. For those people who do not have a valid form of ID they need to apply for a voter authority certificate now.

Angela Woodhouse, Returning Officer for Maidstone Borough Council said:

“All 49 seats are up for election in May with the next all out local election not until 2029, so it is really important that everyone who has the right to vote takes the opportunity to get their voice heard - every single vote counts and we want to make sure that all our residents who are eligible to vote can do so.”

Anyone who won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, can vote by post. They will need to be registered for a postal vote and will be sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. Changes have been made to the process for applying for a postal vote. Anyone wishing to vote this way can either apply online through https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote or by downloading, printing and completing a postal vote application form, for more information on postal vote changes visit: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-postal-voting

Changes have also been made to proxy votes, where someone who cannot go to the polling station in person allows someone they trust to vote on their behalf. The person voting on behalf of someone else can either go to the polling station to cast their vote or can apply to vote for that person by post. To apply online please visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote or for more information on proxy vote changes please visit:

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-proxy-voting

Angela continues:

“As well as reminding voters about the need to bring a valid form of voter ID with them to a polling station, we are also asking anyone who needs to register or wants to apply for a postal or proxy vote to do so as soon as possible. This makes sure we can process them in good time and ensure they have the opportunity to vote.”

A wide range of photographic identification is acceptable at polling stations including:

• Driver’s licences
• Passports
• Some concessionary travel passes
• PASS cards
• Ministry of Defence identity cards
• Photocard parking permits issued as part of the Blue Badge scheme
• Free Voter Authority Certificates, provided by local authorities

Expired photographic identification will also be accepted if the photograph is of a good enough likeness to allow polling station staff to confirm the identity of the holder.

To find out more about voter photo ID and applying for a Voter Authority Certificate please go to: www.electoralcommission.org.uk

Poll cards will be sent out to registered electors at the end of March with all the relevant information to be able to vote.

---