Welsh Parliament Election: What am I voting for and what’s changed?
The Senedd election in May 2026 will see some important changes to how people in Wales are represented and how people vote.
Cymraeg | English
This page explains what’s different, including changes to the number of Members of the Senedd, new constituencies and a new voting system.
You don’t need to understand all of these changes to take part in the election. But knowing the basics can help you feel more confident about using your vote.
What does this election decide?
The election is to decide the 96 Members of the Senedd who make decisions on devolved issues in Wales, including things like how the NHS is run in Wales and what additional support is available for unpaid carers.
The election will decide:
- which party or parties form the Welsh Government
- who becomes First Minister
- which parties will have representatives in the Senedd
Here's what you need to know
96 Members: From the election in May 2026, the Senedd will have 96 Members instead of 60.
New voting system: Everyone over 16 will now have one vote, choosing either a political party or an independent candidate.
New constituencies: Wales will have 16 constituencies. Each constituency will elect six Members of the Senedd.
New rules: Anyone standing for election must live in Wales.
How does the new voting system work?
Members will now be elected using a system called closed list proportional representation.
You will have one vote and can vote for either a political party or an independent candidate. While you will vote for either one party or an independent candidate, after the election, your constituency will be represented by 6 Members of the Senedd. It’s likely those Members will come from several political parties.
Political parties will provide a list of up to eight candidates, ranked in the order the party wants them to be elected. You will see the names and the order of candidates on your ballot paper. You cannot change this order. You can only vote for the either the political party or independent candidate of your choice.
Senedd seats will be allocated using the D’Hondt formula. This decides how many seats each party wins based on their share of the vote. If an independent candidate receives enough votes, they will take one of the six available seats in your constituency.
Shorter Senedd terms
From 2026, Senedd elections will move from a five-year cycle to a four-year cycle. This means the next election after 2026 is scheduled for 2030.
Using your vote in Wales
You must be registered to vote to be able to vote in the Senedd election on 7 May. The deadline to register to vote is midnight Monday 20 April 2026.
Read more about registering to vote, accessible voting and the different ways you can vote
