Tunbridge Wells to go to the polls five days early

Residents in Tunbridge Wells can begin voting in the local elections from Saturday - five days sooner than almost every other part of the country.

Elections in the UK are traditionally held on a Thursday, but the pilot scheme will allow residents to vote early at a three voting hubs in and around the town on 2-3 May.

The hubs are at the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells, Vestry Hall in Cranbrook and the Paddock Wood community centre. They are open 09:00-18:00 BST on Saturday and 10:30-16:30 on Sunday.

The early-voting hubs can be used by anyone registered to vote in the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections.

One third of seats on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are being contested in May.

The borough council elects councillors in stages, with seats voted on in a rolling cycle.

It means roughly one third of councillors are elected each year for three years, followed by a year without borough elections.

Tunbridge Wells is one of four councils chosen by the government to pilot early voting.

William Benson, the chief executive and returning officer for the council, said: "For voters, it's more convenient and hopefully we'll see more people coming out and voting.

"In a dream world, we'd see turnout going up because it's just easier.

"Voting is taking place exactly as it normally would but you do need to remember your ID."

The government says the scheme will "encourage greater participation in democracy".

Cambridge, Milton Keynes and North Herts are the other councils taking part in the trial.

Anyone who chooses not to vote using the hubs this weekend should cast their ballot on 7 May at their allocated polling station.

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