The Kent County Council elections will be held on Thursday 1 May 2025
Kent County Council has 81 elected Councillors. Six Councillors will be elected to represent the Sevenoaks District across six different county areas (divisions). These are:
- Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley
- Sevenoaks Rural North East
- Sevenoaks Rural South
- Sevenoaks Town
- Sevenoaks West
- Swanley
More information about the election is available on the Kent County Council website
Register to Vote
The deadline for registering to vote for the Kent County Council election is midnight on Friday 11 April.
More information about registering to vote is available on our Voting and the Electoral Register page
Voter ID
To vote at a polling station you’ll need an accepted form of photo ID. To see what ID is accepted, and to apply for free ID (known as a Voter Authority Certificate or VAC), please visit our Voter ID at elections page
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the Kent County Council election is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April, but we would recommend you apply as soon as you can.
Voters must show original documents at the polling station; copies or duplicates won’t be accepted.
Postal & Proxy Voting
The deadline for applying for a postal vote for the Kent County Council election is 5pm on Monday 14 April.
To amend or cancel an existing proxy voting arrangement the deadline for the Kent County Council election is 5pm on Monday 14 April.
The deadline to appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf for the Kent County Council election is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April.
More information about proxy voting, postal voting and rules about handing in postal votes at polling stations or at the council offices please visit our Postal and Proxy Voting page
Postal vote despatch dates
If you have a postal vote in place on or before 27 March 2025, your postal vote pack will be despatched around 11 April 2025.
If you apply for a postal vote after 27 March 2025 and before the deadline of 5pm on Monday 14 April, your postal vote pack will be despatched around 22 April 2025.
Information for candidates and campaigners
Nominations
Nominations can be submitted from Monday 24 March until Wednesday 2 April 2025.
Nominations are open from 10am to 4pm each working day and can be submitted to the Conference Room, Council Offices, Argyle Road, TN13 1HG.
We would strongly recommend booking an apppointment to submit nominations. To book an appointment, email elections@sevenoaks.gov.uk or telephone 01732 227000 and ask to speak with the Electoral Services team.
Sevenoaks District Council Briefing sessions
Sevenoaks District Council will be holding a briefing session for all candidates and agents who are interested in standing in the Sevenoaks District, for the Kent County Council election, on 1 May 2025.
The first briefing session will be held online on Wednesday 12 March between 6pm and 7pm. This session will provide information on the nomination process and access to information such as the electoral register.
To receive joining details please email elections@sevenoaks.gov.uk or call 01732 227000.
A second briefing session will be held after the close of nominations which will cover in more detail the local procedures for candidates standing for election.
Electoral Commission advice surgeries
In the run up to the May 2025 local elections, the Electoral Commission are hosting advice surgeries for candidates and agents to support them with the candidate spending laws, practical aspects of their campaign, and completing spending return. The surgeries will provide a 20-minute, one-to-one slot for any candidates or agents who have questions or would like advice or guidance.
The surgeries will take place on 8, 9 and 10 April 2025
For more infomration and to sign-up please visit the Electoral Commission website
Code of conduct for campaigners
Candidates, agents and campaigners at the Kent County Council Election on 1 May 2025 must follow the Electoral Commission’s Code of Conduct for Campaigners.
The Code provides a guide for campaigners and electoral administrators to what is, and is not, acceptable behaviour at polling stations and in the community during the lead-up to polling day.
The code also provides information relating to the handling of postal voting documents by political campaigners and the requirement of secrecy for postal voters.
Election Timetable and Election Notices
Further information about the election timetable and the election notices will be published in March.