Democracy

Parliamentary Elections 2024

An election will be held to elect one Member of Parliament for Ashford constituency on 4th July 2024

Below is everything you need to know about the election.

Constituency

Parliamentary constituencies have changed substantially as a result of a Boundary Review in 2023. The Ashford Constituency now comprises a larger area of the Folkestone and Hythe District than of the Borough of Ashford and more of the Borough of Ashford is in the Weald of Kent Constituency than in the Ashford Constituency.

Map of Ashford Parliamentary Election Constituency
Ashford Parliamentary Constituency

Candidates

The candidates nominated for the Ashford Constituency are:

Name of CandidateHome AddressDescription (if any)
GREEN, Damian HowardHighlands, Charing Hill, Charing, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0NGThe Conservative Party Candidate
JOSEPH, Sojan(address in Ashford)Labour Party
KENNEDY HARPER, Tristram John(address in the Lewisham North Constituency)Reform UK
RANSLEY, James GordonLees Farm, 72 Kennington Road, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0NSYour Local Consensus Party Candidate
ROSSI, Mandy(address in the Ashford Constituency)The Green Party
ROWLEDGE, Adam James(address in the Folkestone and Hythe Constituency)Liberal Democrats

Timetable

The following are the deadlines to vote in the Parliamentary elections. More details are given under How to vote.

Register to vote11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024
Apply to vote by post5pm on Wednesday 19 June 2024
Apply to vote by proxy5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024
Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (Voter ID)5pm on Wednesday 26 June 2024

How to vote

Voter registration

To vote in the Parliamentary Election you must have registered to vote by:
11.59pm on Tuesday 18 June 2024.

Find out if you are eligible to vote and how to apply:
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/who-can-vote/register-vote

Postal vote

If you cannot attend or do not wish to attend the polling station you can apply to vote by post but must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19 June

You must have registered to vote by Tuesday 18th June to be able to apply for a postal vote.

There are two ways to apply to vote by post:

You can choose to apply for a postal vote for a particular election, a particular type of election, or all elections you are eligible to vote in.

If you only want to apply for a postal vote for a particular type of election, you need to contact the electoral services team at your local council

You need to complete a new postal vote application if you have moved house or changed your name.

If you have an existing long-term postal vote that you wish to cancel, you must do so by 5pm on Wednesday 19th June

Proxy vote

Alternatively you can apply to have someone that you trust to vote for you at the polling station. You must apply by: 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

You and your proxy must both have registered to vote before you can apply and by 11:59pm on Tuesday 18 June.

There are two ways to apply for a proxy vote for a particular election:

Voter ID

Voters and proxy voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations.

If you do not have one of the forms of ID listed below you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. You must apply by: 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

Apply online

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate on gov.uk.

Apply now(Opens in new window)

Apply by post

Apply by filling out a paper application form and sending it to your local council. 

You can contact your local council to request a form or you can download a form (Opens in new window).

You may also be able to apply in person at your local council.

If you need any help applying for a Voter Authority Certificate, contact your local council. You can also call our helpline on 0800 328 0280 if you have any questions.

Accepted forms of ID are:
International travel
  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state (Opens in new window) or a Commonwealth country (including an Irish Passport Card) 
Driving and Parking
  • Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
  • A Blue Badge
Local travel
  • Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the UK Government
  • 60+ London Oyster Photocard funded by Transport for London
  • Freedom Pass
  • Scottish National Entitlement Card issued for the purpose of concessionary travel (including a 60+, disabled or under 22s bus pass)
  • 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
  • Senior SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Registered Blind SmartPass or Blind Person’s SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • War Disablement SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • 60+ SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
  • Half Fare SmartPass issued in Northern Ireland
Proof of age
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
Other government issued documents

Where to vote

The map below indicates areas covered by the polling districts in South Ashford and shows the locations of polling stations. The boundaries are approximate and you should use the tool on the Ashford Borough Council website to confirm your polling station

Contact Electoral Services

Contact Electoral Services if you live in the Borough of Ashford

Telephone

Contact the Electoral Services Office on 01233 330402.

Email

vote@ashford.gov.uk

Post

Electoral Services
Ashford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford
Kent TN23 1PL

In person

If you need to visit the office please telephone for an appointment.

Borough Election Candidates

The candidates for election to wards in South Ashford, as published by the Returning Officer for Ashford, are listed below:

Name of CandidateHome AddressDescription
(if any)
Name of Proposer (*), Seconder (**)
Beaver Ward
HARRISON
Garry George
187 Beaver Lane, Ashford, TN23 5PDTrade Unionist and Socialist CoalitionHarrison Garry G *Harrison Hazel J **
LEAVEY
Kate
(address in Ashford)Labour PartyLeeper Donna P *Leeper Patricia J **
LIMBU
Dhan
(address in Ashford)Local ConservativesBarrett William J *Barrett Jayne **
SHORTER
Neil James
Little Dexter, Magpie Hall Road, Stubbs Cross, Ashford, Kent, TN26 1HFLocal ConservativesBowen Paul W *Southern Roy L **
STAMP
Jacquie
99 Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7SFLiberal DemocratsHickman David *Hickman Teresa I **
SUDDARDS
Lyn
35 Queen Street, TN23 1RFLabour PartyLeeper Donna P *Leeper Richard W **
THORNE
Phill
19 Samuel Peto Way, Ashford, TN24 0XQAshford IndependentMorris Kevin *

Morris Valerie A **
Norman Ward
FARRELL
Dara
38 Luddenham Close, TN23 5SELabour PartyMullen Paige L *Bradley Lucy **
GAMBLING
Jo
(address in Ashford)The Green PartyPartner Stuart G *Gambling Laura **
STARKINGS
Mark
The Beaver Inn, 322 Beaver Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7SPLocal ConservativesBryant Christopher J *Brenchley Robert D **
WEBB
Jenny
7 Upper Denmark Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 7TZIndependentWebb David J *

Patel Mukesh **
Victoria Ward
ELLIS
Charles
(address in Ashford)Local ConservativesGalpin Graham H*Limbu Biswasdip**
GAUDER
Tania
(address in Ashford)Labour PartyGauder Shirley R*Behrens Wilhelm H**
NEWING
Sally
(address in Ashford)Liberal DemocratsFairley Helen V*Gee-Turner Adrian J**
RAMSDEN
Kati
(address in Ashford)The Green PartyArnold Albert S*Nilsson Dawn M M**
SITTON
Steve
(address in Ashford)The Green PartyArnold Albert S*Nilsson Dawn M M**
SUDDARDS
Charles
35 Queen Street, Ashford, TN23 1RFLabour PartyGould Lesley E*Gould Teresa J**
TRILSBACH
Tony
10 Thornlea, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3JXLocal ConservativesHobbs Peter J*Powell James R W**

Ashford split by new boundary plans

The Ashford Parliamentary Constituency will be separated from the majority of the Borough under Initial Proposals put forward by the Boundary Commission for England.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is currently conducting a review of parliamentary constituency boundaries on the basis of rules most recently updated by Parliament in 2020. These latest rules retain 650 constituencies for the UK Parliament as a whole, and require constituencies that are proposed or recommended to comply with strict parameters, in particular as far as the number of electors in each constituency is concerned.

The BCE has published its ‘Initial Proposals’, which will see South Ashford in the same Constituency as Hawkinge and Elham but different to that of Great Chart and Kingsnorth.

The existing Ashford Parliamentary Constituency boundary, shown as a narrow blue line, follows the Borough boundary, thicker green line, other than an area to the east, which includes Ruckinge, Aldington and Brabourne, and is part of the Folkestone and Hythe Constituency.

The Initial Proposals published by BCE will see the Borough split across three constituencies, with boundaries shown red against the green Borough boundaries.

  • Ashford urban area, including the Town Centre, Stanhope and Singleton will be in a constituency which extends eastward to Hawkinge and Wingmore.
  • The south and west of the Borough, including Aldington, Ham Street, Wittersham, Tenterden, Kingsnorth and Great Chart will be in a new Weald of Kent Constituency, which stretches as far as the outskirts of Maidstone and includes Boughton Monchelsea, Loose and Nettlestead.
  • The northern part of the Borough including Chilham, Bilting, Boughton Lees, Sandyhurst Lane, Westwell and Charing will become part of the Faversham and Mid-Kent Constituency with with villages as far west and north as Bredgar, Radfield and Conyer.

The primary criteria for the new boundaries is that apart from five specified exceptions – every constituency recommended must have an electorate (as at 2 March 2020) that is no less than 95% and no more than 105% of the ‘UK electoral quota’. The UK electoral quota for the 2023 Review is, to the nearest whole number, 73,393.
Accordingly, every recommended constituency (except the five ‘protected’ constituencies) must have an electorate as at 2 March 2020 that is no smaller than 69,724 and no larger than 77,062.

The BCE may take into account in establishing a new map of constituencies for the 2023 Review:

  • special geographical considerations, including in particular the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency;
  • local government boundaries as they existed (or were in prospect) on 1 December 2020 (see paragraph 16 above);
  • boundaries of existing constituencies;
  • any local ties that would be broken by changes in constituencies; and
  • the inconveniences attendant on such changes.

BCE have published a guide to the Review:
boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/guide-to-the-2023-review-of-parliamentary-constituencies/

You can comment on the proposals on the BCE consultation website www.bcereviews.org.uk/.

Comments must be made by Tuesday 2nd August 2021.

PCC Election result

The result of the election for Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent Police Area is:

Name of Candidate

Description

Number of Votes

SCOTT, Matthew RichardThe Conservative Party Candidate237,278
OYEWUSI, Omolola Joanna
Known as Lola Oyewusi
Labour and Co-operative Party103,807
COLLEY, Graham DavidLiberal Democrats69,464

South Ashford Election Results

The results of the elections for posts representing South Ashford held on 6th May 2021

Name of Candidate

Description

(if any)

Number of Votes

Kent County Council

Ashford South Division

ROSS, DirkThe Conservative Party Candidate1407 Elected
FARRELL, DaraLabour Party1319
PIZZEY, Thomas PaulThe Green Party263
BEHRENS, Wilhelm HeinrichLiberal Democrats232

Kent County Council

Ashford East Division

CAMPKIN, Steven RobertThe Green Party1854 Elected
GALPIN, Graham HaroldThe Conservative Party Candidate1428
JOSEPH, SojanLabour Party596
HARRISON, Garry GeorgeIndependent149
STROLZ, Samuel JohnLiberal Democrats136

Ashford Borough Council

Beaver Ward

BROOKS, TrevorThe Conservative Party Candidate468 Elected
JONES, Dylan AlexanderLabour Party402
HARRISON, Garry GeorgeIndependent105
PIZZEY, Thomas PaulThe Green Party70
STAMP, Jacqueline MaryLiberal Democrats64

How to vote if you are self isolating

Ways to vote

If you can’t get to a polling station because

and you were not aware of the circumstances on 20th April, you can apply for am Emergency Proxy Vote.

You should ask somebody you trust to vote in accordance with your wishes to vote on your behalf.

Download the appropriate Emergency Proxy Voting Application (use links above) complete it and arrange for it to be delivered to the Civic Centre. You should apply as soon as possible but this can be any time up to 5pm on polling day.

Ask your Proxy to go to the polling station named on your polling card (see our post regarding polling stations in South Ashford), and tell the staff that they are voting on your behalf by Emergency Proxy. Tell them who you want to vote for in each election in which you are voting: Police and Crime Commissioner, Kent County Council and, if you live in the ward, Ashford Borough Council Beaver Ward (see our list of candidates).

Your vote is yours alone

Remember: Your Vote is Yours Alone

You must not allow somebody else to use your polling card or vote on your behalf unless they have been nominated on a Proxy Voting Application.

Only nominate somebody you trust to vote in accordance with your wishes.

If you need information about voting:

South Ashford Polling Stations

The following is a list of polling stations in South Ashford.

Your polling card will give your Electoral Register Number but if you don’t have it use the map above.

You do not need your polling card to vote but must be on the electoral register.

If you applied to vote by post and have received your postal voting form you must post it or deliver it to the Civic Centre by 10pm on Thursday 6th May or hand it in at any polling station on polling day (6th May). You must not vote at a polling station if you have voted by post.

You will not be able to vote if you did not register to vote by 19th April 2021. If you have not done so, Register to Vote now for future elections.

Do not allow anybody else to use your polling card or your postal voting form if you have not applied to vote by proxy.

Situation of Polling Station StationNumberRanges of electoral register numbers of
persons entitled to vote thereat
Beaver Green Primary School, Cuckoo Lane4BE1-1 to BE1-1451
South Ashford Baptist Church, Brookfield Road5BE2-1 to BE2-2032
St Francis Church Hall, Cryol Road6BE3-1 to BE3-1248
Gateway Church, The Riverside Centre, Clockhouse71VI2-1 to VI2-742
Ashford Community Church, Francis Road73VI4-1 to VI4-1939
St Francis Church Hall, Cryol Road7BE3X-1 to BE3X-6
United Reformed Methodist Church, Cade Road45NO1-1 to NO1-1195/1
Christchurch Community Hall, Christchurch Road46NO2-1 to NO2-893/1
Polling stations in South Ashford

Local election candidates

Ballot box

Below we list the candidates standing to serve South Ashford in elections to be held on 6th May for:

  • Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent Police Area
  • Kent County Council member for Ashford South Division
  • Ashford Borough Council member for Beaver Ward

We have requested election statements from all parties / candidates. Those that we have received can be viewed by clicking the candidate’s name.

Police and Crime CommissionerKent Police Area
Colley, Graham DavidLiberal Democrats
Oyewusi, LolaLabour and Co-operative Party
Scott, Matthew RichardThe Conservative Party Candidate
Kent County Council
Ashford South Division
(includes area served by ABC Beaver and Victoria Wards)
Behrens, HeinLiberal Democrats
Farrell, DaraLabour Party
Pizzey, ThomThe Green Party
Ross, DirkThe Conservative Party Candidate
Kent County Council
Ashford East Division
(includes area served by ABC Norman Ward)
Campkin, SteveThe Green Party
Galpin, GrahamThe Conservative Party Candidate
Harrison, Garry GeorgeIndependent
Joseph, SojanLabour Party
Strolz, Samuel JohnLiberal Democrats
Ashford Borough CouncilBeaver Ward
Brooks, TrevorThe Conservative Party Candidate
Harrison, Garry GeorgeIndependent
Jones, Dylan AlexanderLabour Party
Pizzey, ThomThe Green Party
Stamp, Jacqueline MaryLiberal Democrats

Parliamentary Election Results

On Thursday 12 December, a vote was held for the parliamentary constituency of Ashford in the 2019 General Election. The candidates and the numbers of votes cast were:

Name of candidatePartyVotes
DE SANVIL, Susannah LouiseIndependent862
FARRELL, DaraLabour Party13,241
GEE-TURNER, Adrian JohnLiberal Democrats6,048
GREEN, Damian HowardThe Conservative Party37,270 Elected
ROSSI, MandyThe Green Party2,638


Electorate: 89,553

Turnout: 67.4%

Polling day

Make sure you vote on Thursday 12th December.

Your vote counts.

Your polling card gives your polling station but our map shows the polling stations for Beaver, Norman and Victoria Wards. Click on your Polling District to show the polling station.

You don’t need your polling card t vote but not having received one may indicate that you are not registered to vote.