People in Wales will head to the polls on May 7 to vote for who they want to represent them in a new-look Welsh Parliament
The timing of the counts for next year’s Senedd election have been confirmed(Image: PA)
The timing of the counts during next year’s all-important Senedd election has been confirmed in a major announcement. Voters across Wales will head to the polls on Thursday, May 7, to have their say on who they would like to represent them in an expanded Senedd through an entirely new voting system.
Wales’ electoral management board has confirmed that votes cast will be counted during the daytime on the day after the poll. Returning officers, who are in charge of running elections in Wales, have been instructed to begin counting the votes after 9am on Friday, May 8, instead of over night.
Counts will have to begin before 11am on the day after the election. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
It’s hoped that the decision means more people will have the opportunity to keep up to date with developments as results are declared, rather than having to stay up all night. It will be the second time a daytime count has taken place for a Senedd election, the first time being the last election in 2021.
Daytime counts were also used in Wales for the 2024 police and crime commissioner elections and 2022 local government elections. The electoral management board decided to continue with daytime counts following consultation with returning officers and the Electoral Commission.
As well as allowing more people to keep up with developments, the board said that a daytime count ensures election staff are well-rested, and that all resources are available to returning officers and their teams to carry out a secure, efficient, and successful count. It also ensures consistency across Wales for when the counting of votes will take place.
While the count will take place the day after the election, returning officers have the choice to verify ballot papers immediately following the close of polls. Verification refers to counting the number of ballot papers present to make sure it matches the number of ballot papers issued. The process does not include the counting of votes for any party.
Commenting on the latest announcement, chief executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, Shereen Williams MBE, said: “Returning officers and their teams are already working tirelessly to deliver a smooth and secure election on May 8
“A daytime count helps to make sure that more people are able to watch the all-important counting of the votes. The clarity given will also help returning officers to recruit and manage the workload of their election staff.”
She added: “We want more people from across Wales to be able to engage with this important election, and that includes watching the results come through.”
The next Senedd election is particularly significant as it will be the first time voters will have their say under a new system. From 2026 you’ll see a number of changes happening to the Senedd.
A total of 96 Senedd members will be elected, up from 60. They will represent 16 new, larger constituencies, which will each elect six members through a proportional system.
People will vote for a closed list of party candidates who will be elected in proportion to the number of votes won by their party using the D’Hondt formula. Read more about the changes here.
Polling also shows that it could be the first time Welsh Labour is not in control of the Senedd. If the latest polling proves right, it would mean the party is on course to take as few as 11 seats in the new-look Welsh Parliament. Plaid Cymru and Reform UK led the poll, with the parties project to win 37 votes each.