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Kent Youth County Council (KYCC) elections

The countdown to this year’s KYCC elections has begun and now it is time to sign up and get involved!

KYCC is open to all young people aged 11 to 18 years. Sixty young people from across the county will be elected to represent the views and issues of young people in Kent and campaign on the top 3 issues for young people.

KYCC meets once a month, on a Saturday at County Hall, Maidstone (travel expenses are provided). No experience is required and we provide lots of support and training, so if you have something you want to say or do to improve the lives of young people in Kent, sign up now!

The 2025 elections will take place from 10 to 23 November. The deadline to register as a candidate is midnight on Sunday 12 October.

Register as a candidate

To be a candidate you must:

  • be 11 to 18 years old
  • live, work or go to school within Kent County Council’s boundaries
  • complete the candidate registration form below.

You have 2 options to register as a candidate:

District members

The election for these seats take place online and in schools, colleges and youth organisations. Four young people will be elected as KYCC Members and 4 as KYCC Deputy Members from each district in Kent.

Community members

These elections are held online and within groups and organisations specific to the community seat. The community seat elections ensure KYCC is representative of all communities in Kent. When you register, you will be able to select the community you belong to and would like to represent. One member and one deputy member is elected to represent each community seat.

Community seats include:

  • young people from an ethnic minority background
  • LGBTQ+ young people
  • disabled young people
  • Gypsy/Roma and traveller young people
  • international students
  • young carers
  • home educated young people
  • young people in care
  • young people not in education, training or employment
  • young refugees.

If you belong to a community which is not represented in this list, you can still apply and include details of the minority community you would like to represent.

Register to be a district or community candidate

Register as a polling station

If you're a school or youth organisation, we need your help to:

  • run the elections this year
  • encourage young people to sign up as candidates for the elections
  • hold the elections in your school or youth setting.

Elections can be held online or by paper ballot. The best turnout is by paper ballot or by those schools who create dedicated time for online voting during class.

If you register for the paper ballot, we will deliver the ballot papers and manifesto posters the week before the election, and collect them at the end of the voting period.

If you register for online elections, we will post you a pack of promotional resources, including manifesto and promotional posters to display around your school or youth organisation.

A range of resources including PowerPoint slides to be used in assemblies and promotional posters and leaflets will be sent to you in September. Please ensure to share these with the young people you work with.

We can also support you in delivering school assemblies. Email kycc@kent.gov.uk if you would like a member of our team to come along to your school or youth organisation.

Register your school or youth organisation as a polling station

Current members

Our KYCC members help to represent the voice of people in their area. Find out which top 3 issues are the KYCC Campaigns for 2025.