Polls are open across Wales today as voters head out to elect the most important Senedd in Welsh history.
But this election is different to any that has come before – with a brand new voting system that two-thirds of Welsh voters told pollsters they didn’t understand just days ago.
If you’re heading to the polling station today, here’s everything you need to know.
When are polls open?
Polls opened at 7am this morning and will remain open until 10pm tonight. As long as you are inside your polling station – or in the queue – by 10pm, you will be allowed to vote.
Where do I vote?
You can only vote at the polling station listed on your polling card. If you’ve lost your card, don’t worry – you can still vote without it, as long as you can confirm your name and address to the staff.
Do I need photo ID?
No. Photo ID is required for UK General Elections in Wales but is not required for Senedd elections. You can vote without showing ID.
How does the new voting system work?
This is the big one – and it’s where most of the confusion lies.
Wales has moved to a fully proportional system using closed party lists. There are now 96 Senedd Members instead of 60, elected from 16 enlarged constituencies that each return six MS.
Instead of voting for a single named candidate, you will vote for a single political party – or for an individual standing as an independent.
The number of MS each party receives in your constituency depends on the share of the vote they win. A party that wins roughly 50% of the vote in a constituency will get three of the six seats. A party that wins around 17% will get one.
What is a ‘closed list’?
Each party has published an ordered list of candidates for each constituency, with their preferred candidate at the top.
If a party wins one seat, the candidate at the top of their list takes it. If they win two, the top two candidates are elected – and so on.
You cannot pick which individual candidate from a party gets elected. You vote for the party, and the party decides the order.
What does the ballot paper look like?
The ballot paper lists each party with the names of all six candidates underneath, in the order chosen by the party. You place a single cross (X) next to the party of your choice – not next to an individual candidate.
What if I want to vote for an independent?
Independents are listed alongside the parties. You vote for them in the same way – by placing a single cross (X) next to their name.
Can I spoil my ballot deliberately?
You can – though spoiled ballots are recorded and reported separately. Some voters use them as a form of protest.
When will we know the results?
Counting begins at 9am tomorrow morning, with the first results expected by lunchtime. The full picture across all 16 constituencies should be clear by Friday afternoon or evening.
What happens after the results?
The party with the most seats will try to form a government. With 96 seats in the new Senedd, a party needs 49 to command a majority. If no party reaches that, coalition negotiations will begin.
More than two-thirds of Welsh voters didn’t understand the new voting system in the days leading up to today’s election – so if you’re still unsure, polling station staff are available to help.
If you want to find your polling station or check whether you’re registered to vote, full details are available at electoralcommission.org.uk.
