Holding the general election will cost Kent taxpayers an estimated £2.9m, according to government figures.

The bill covers the costs to councils of organising the election for the 17 parliamentary seats in the county, including arranging for polling stations to be set up and paying for “tellers” to count votes.

It also covers the costs of sending out postal votes and distribute candidates’ mailings.

Several councils have indicated that their costs for the June poll will be higher than previous elections, primarily as it is a stand-alone poll rather than one combining local council elections.

The government provides returning officers - who organise counts - an estimated figure for the costs and it is for councils to claim the money back.

Faversham and Mid Kent has been allocated the most, £187,403 followed by Ashford with £184,154 - in both cases figures that reflects the geographical size of the constituencies.

Third is Tonbridge and Malling, with an estimated £177,712.

The council that receives the least is Canterbury with an allocation of £116,289 - more than £30,455 less than has been earmarked for North Thanet at £146,744, the second lowest.

Across the county’s 17 parliamentary constituencies in Kent, a total of £2.2m has been earmarked to cover the costs.

Under the government’s arrangements, councils have to submit their claims to the Cabinet Office after the election.

These are then scrutinised by government officials before being signed off.

Overall, the election is estimated to cost the taxpayer about £143m, an increase of 16% from the £123m the government budgeted for the 2015 general election.

The estimated costs for Kent are:

Ashford: £184,154

Canterbury: £116,289

Dartford: £174,360

Dover: £175,287

Faversham and Mid Kent: £187,403

Folkestone and Hythe: £169748

Gillingham: £131,830

Gravesham: £172,249

Chatham and Aylesford: £149,803

Maidstone and the Weald: £163,639

Rochester and Strood:£154,109

Sevenoaks: £172,442

Sittingbourne and Sheppey: £155,253

Tonbridge and Malling: £177,712

Tunbridge Wells: £154,072

North Thanet:£146,744

South Thanet: £149,573

However, the short nature of the campaign is likely to mean less is spent by the parties. In the 2015 general election, political parties spent nearly £40 million nationally.