The people have been to the polling stations and their votes are being counted in the 2019 local elections.

Yet with many voters disillusioned with politics, particularly over the government's handling of Brexit, these have been tipped to be among the most unpredictable council elections this century.

Here are the areas to watch as the results come in across the county.

Swale

It could be a tense wait for the Conservative council leader Andrew Bowles, who is standing in ‎Boughton and Courtenay. He was briefly suspended and forced to apologise for a tweet defending right of far-right leader Tommy Robinson to free speech. There is a new group Swale Independents that could make a breakthrough.

Folkestone and Hythe

Can a pact between the Green Party and the Liberal Democrats challenge the Conservative’s solid grip on the council? The two have agreed a “progressive alliance” and are not fielding candidates in a small number of wards.

Canterbury

Labour will be looking to pick up momentum after pulling off a general election coup in 2017 as Rosie Duffield unexpectedly ousted long serving MP Julian Brazier. Meanwhile, the Green Party and Lib Dems are looking for an electoral dividend from a similar pact to the one in Folkestone and Hythe.

Thanet

This was won by Ukip in 2015, making it the only Ukip-controlled council in the UK. However, party splits have meant control has since been handed to the Conservatives. Labour is looking to make gains and disgraced former Conservative Paul Messenger, who was suspended over historic Islamophobic posts on Facebook, is standing as an independent in Sir Moses Montefiore ward in Ramsgate.

Gravesham

On paper, this is where Labour has the best prospect of ousting the Conservatives, who have had internal divisions and split into two groups. Labour would need to win three seats from the Conservatives to take power.

Maidstone

There has been a long-running battle between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats for control of the County Town and this looks like another two-way tussle. Only one third of the seats here are being contested.

Tunbridge Wells

Conservative David Jukes, who has led the council for seven years, could come under pressure from the independent Tunbridge Wells Alliance in Speldhurst & Bidborough.

For live updates on the local election results in Kent, click here.