Voters will soon go to the polls in 18 wards across Maidstone.

One third of the 55-seat borough council is up for election and there are 69 candidates hoping to get elected.

The polling booths will be open next Thursday, May 3, between 7am and 10pm.

There was a change in the law in 2013, which allows that in the event of a last-minute rush, anyone who joins a queue before 10pm will be allowed to vote even if they can't actually cast their ballot until the after the deadline.

You do not currently have to take any form of identification with you to the polling station - not even your polling card. Enjoy that privilege while you can because the Government will be trialling ID-voting in five authorities across the country this time around, and it is possible that by the next election we will all be required to show some photo-ID to vote.

Sometimes, when you arrive at the polling station, you may be asked by canvassers outside the door for your name or polling number.

These are representatives of the political parties hoping to tick you off their voting list.

It is entirely voluntary whether you give them your details or not.

Should they attempt to persuade you to vote one way or the other at this stage, they will be committing an offence.

No photography is permitted in polling stations - so no selfies!

The votes will not be counted until the next day

The count will be held at the Clive Emson Exhibition Hall at the Kent County Showground at Detling, starting at 9am, with the first result expected at about 11am and the final results expected to have been declared by 1pm at the latest.

A full list of candidates can be found below.

Allington

Dan Daley (Lib Dem)

Barry Ginley (Con)

Marianna Poliszczuk (Lab)

Bearsted

Mike Cuming (Con)

Jim Grogan (Lab)

Lizzie Hare (Lib Dem)

Boxley

Richard Atkins (Lab)

Andrew Cockersole (Lib Dem)

Bob Hinder (Con)

Bridge

Donna Greenan (Green)

Bruce Heald (Lab)

David Picket (Lib Dem)

Jonathan Purle (Con)

Coxheath and Hunton

Madeline Darby (Lab)

Brian Mortimer (Lib Dem)

Lottie Parfitt-Read (Con)

Mike Summersgill (Green)

East

Joanna Burns (Lab)

Nikki Fissenden (Lib Dem)

James Shalice (Green)

Cheryl Taylor-Maggio (Con)

Fant

Paul Harper (Lab)

Rosaline Janko (Lib Dem)

Graham Jarvis (Con)

Ian McDonald (Green)

Harrietsham and Lenham

Karen Chappell-Tay (Con)

Greg Levitt (Lab)

Susan Parr (Green)

Janetta Sama (Ind)

Headcorn

Merilyn Fraser (Lib Dem)

Geof Harvey (Lab)

Martin Round (Con)

Heath

Alan Chell (Con)

Ben Crozier (Lab)

Ashleigh Kimmance (Lib Dem)

Geoff Wilkinson (Green)

High Street

Clive English (Lib Dem)

Kimmy Falconer (Green)

Sam Lain-Rose (Con)

Tim Licence (Lab)

Marden and Yalding

David Burton (Con)

Richard Coates (Lab)

Caroline Jessel (Green)

Sarah Rowe (Lib Dem)

North

Maureen Cleator (Lab)

Tony Harwood (Lib Dem)

Stuart Jeffery (Green)

Joe Mamo (Con)

Park Wood

Dinesh Khadka (Lib Dem)

Daniel Rose (Con)

Dan Wilkinson (Lab)

Shepway North

Alan Bartlett (Con)

Steve Beerling (Lib Dem)

Gary Butler (Ind)

Kris Jeary (Lab)

Steve Muggeridge (Green)

Carol Newton (Independent Maidstone)

Shepway South

John Barned (Independent Maidstone)

Paul Cooper (Con)

Malcolm McKay (Lab)

South

Steve Cheeseman (Green)

Michael Hogg (Ind)

Wendy Hollands (Lab)

Yolande Kenward (Ind)

Derek Mortimer (Lib Dem)

Paul Wooding (Con)

Staplehurst

John Perry (Con)

Marlyn Randall (Lab)

Andrew Watson (Lib Dem)