The election count is soon to get under way to determine who will run a borough council for the next four years.
The ballot boxes from 91 polling stations across Maidstone, including many Weald villages, have arrived at the Clive Emson Conference Centre at the Kent County Showground, where 120 tellers are eager to get busy.
Many of the 163 candidates in the Maidstone Borough Council elections are expected to attend, accompanied by supporters who will watch the count closely to ensure that no mistakes are made.
But there is a process to be gone through before the actual counting of votes can begin at 9am.
When voters went to the polls yesterday, many of them had three ballot papers to fill in - their choice for their ward councillors, their choice for their county-wide Police and Crime Commissioner and also in many cases, their choices for their parish councils.
First, the tellers will need to separate the ballots for each poll. Then they will need to check that the number of ballot papers received corresponds with the number of votes cast as recorded at each polling station.
Only when the returning officer, Angela Woodhouse, is happy with that, will the actual counting of votes begin.
Results for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells elections are expected at about 3pm.
The ballots for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner will be transferred to Gravesend, where a central count is to take place on Sunday, with results expected at about 4pm.
This is the first election since a change of ward boundaries reduced the number of councillors from 55 to 49.
No one - even those in previously “safe” seats - can really know how the new boundaries might affect the outcome.
But candidates who visited the polling stations throughout the day yesterday are talking of a disappointingly low turn-out.
Going into the polls, there had been a situation of no overall control at Maidstone council, but the Conservatives, who were the largest party, had formed the administration with the backing of some Independents.
Previously, the Conservatives had 25 seats, Lib Dems 12, Independents 6, Green Independent Alliance 6, Labour 4, and Fant and Oakwood Independents 2.
Of the 55 former councillors, only 47 are seeking re-election. Among the eight who didn’t stand this time is the former council leader, Conservative David Burton
Most candidates are predicting that no overall control is again the most likely outcome, but views vary on which will be the largest party.
The Conservatives have placed themselves in the best position by fielding a full slate of 49 candidates. The Greens put up 35 hopefuls. The Lib Dems managed 29 candidates, with Labour putting up 28.
There were 10 Independent candidates and if there does turn out to be another minority administration, their support could be crucial.
