The way you vote in Senedd elections has changed. You will now vote using a voting system called the 'closed proportional list system' to elect Members of the Senedd. This is a form of proportional representation. This means the more votes a political party or independent candidate gets, the more seats they will win.

The ballot paper will ask you to 'vote only once by putting an X in the voting box next to your choice'.

The ballot paper will show a list of candidates for each political party. The parties choose the order that candidates appear on the list. The people at the top of the list are elected first.

For example, if a political party wins three seats, the first three people on their list will be elected.

If an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will win a seat in the Senedd. 

Seats will reflect the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate gets.

The Welsh Government is responsible for deciding how Wales is run. They choose what to spend public money on and decide how to deliver public services.It is where Welsh laws are passed and where some Welsh taxes are set. Members of the Senedd look at the work of the Welsh Government and question its decisions and spending in the Senedd.

The Senedd looks closely at the work of the Welsh Government and questions its ministers. It examines government plans and suggests changes. Senedd members are also able to raise issues in the Senedd that are important to you. The Senedd is responsible for services such as health, education, transport.

Further information regarding the role of the Senedd can be found here.

You can vote in the Senedd election if you are registered to vote in Wales, will be 16 years old or over on Thursday 7 May 2026 and are:

• a British or Irish citizen or
• a Commonwealth citizen who has leave to remain in the UK or does not require such leave or
• a citizen of a European Union country or
• a qualifying foreign citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK or who does not need such permission

British citizens living overseas can't vote in this election.

For further information please visit the Electoral Commission website: Which elections you can vote in | Electoral Commission

You must be registered to vote by midnight on Monday 20 April 2026 to vote in this election. It's important that you register to vote as early as possible in case your local council needs to check any details with you.

If you've never registered or have recently moved house, register to vote online at http://www.gov.uk/registertovote.

It will only take five minutes.

To register you will be asked for the following details:

• your full name,
• your postal address,
• your date of birth, and
• your national insurance number (if you are 16 years of age or above). It helps to have your National Insurance number to hand, you can find it on your payslip, P60, or letters about tax, pensions and benefits.

There are many ways in which you can vote if you are registered to vote:

Voting in person at a Polling Station

When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you. This is based on your address on the electoral register.

Polling stations are open from 7.00am to 10.00pm on polling day, 7 May 2026 and are usually public buildings like schools or local halls. 

Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted.

You can only vote in person at your allocated polling station.

Your polling station address will be on your poll card. We will send the card by post a few weeks before polling day.

Find your polling station here: Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?

You do not need photo ID to vote in this election.

What to expect at the polling station

You will need to give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive.

You will be given a ballot paper which has details of how to vote and the voting options for the poll.  If you need any help to cast your vote, please ask the staff in the polling station. Find out more about voting in person.

Voting by post

You can apply to vote by post for:

• a single election on a specific date
• a specific period, or
• permanently

You will need to download and print the postal vote application form, complete it and send it to us by email or post. 

The application form has instructions on how to fill it in correctly.

You will need to provide your date of birth and sign your application form. These are used to confirm your identity when you vote by post. 

You will not need to provide a National Insurance number. 

If you cannot sign the form or cannot sign in a consistent way, please contact us.

If you cannot download and print this form, you can contact us to request a print of this form.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote in this election is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 21 April 2026.

You will be a sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. If you have a postal vote, you will not be able to vote in person at a polling station.

If you wish to cancel your postal vote for this election, you will need to do so by 5.00pm on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.

Completing and returning your postal vote

When voting by post, you should:

• mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
• fill in the postal voting statement
• put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
• seal the envelope yourself

Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it is counted. 

If you are too late to post your ballot paper, you can take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day or to the Electoral Services at Ty Dewi Sant, St. David’s Park, Ewloe, Flintshire.  CH5 3FF

What to do if your ballot paper is spoilt or lost

Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your voting choice. If it has been damaged or if you lose it, you need to get another one. You will need to provide some identification alongside the request.

You can either:

• contact us to ask for a replacement on 01352 702412
• collect a replacement from us at Electoral Services, Ty Dewi Sant, St. David’s Park, Ewloe, Flintshire.  CH5 3FF

You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post or if your ballot paper was lost or damaged.

Voting by proxy

If you know that you won't be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.

The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.

Your proxy should be someone you trust to vote for you. You will need to tell them how you wish your vote to be cast. 

To apply to vote by proxy, you will need to download and print the voting by proxy registration form, complete it, sign it, and send it to us by post or e-mail. 

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote in this election is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026.

Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website: (Apply to vote by proxy | Electoral Commission)

Emergency proxy vote

In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.

This must be something that you weren't aware of before 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5.00pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

Circumstances where you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy include:

• Medical emergency
• Away for work.

If you need to apply for an emergency proxy, please telephone Electoral Services on 01352 702412

Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website: (Emergency proxy vote | Electoral Commission)

The deadline for registering to vote is Monday, 20 April 2026;

If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by Monday, 20 April 2026;

If you wish to vote by post or by postal proxy, the deadline to apply is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 21 April 2026;

If you wish to vote by proxy (not emergency proxy), the deadline to apply is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026;

Emergency proxy votes may be available from after 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026 until 5.00pm on 7 May 2026 but only under specific extenuating circumstances, find details on the Electoral Commission website or telephone 01352 702412.

Polling Day is Thursday, 7 May 2026. Polling Stations will be open from 7.00am to 10.00pm.

Neal Cockerton, Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) will be holding a briefing session for parties, candidates and agents prior to the nomination period

The briefing session will cover the pre-nomination period. The CRO will provide important information regarding the nomination process, including deposit payments and the timetable

The briefing session will be held on Tuesday 17 March 2026 at 5.00pm on-line. Please contact candidates@flintshire.gov.uk for further information and to request a link to the meeting.

The Electoral Commission

Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

Electoral Management Board (EMB) election address

Senedd Cymru Elections 2025

Your election freepost election leaflet - hosted online at vote.wales

The Electoral Management Board of Wales has launched vote. Wales which is an online election information platform for voters across Wales.  This is an impartial website for voters to find out information about the upcoming election. This will include information about their polling station and who they can vote for. 

You are entitled to submit your freepost election leaflet to be published online for all voters to access and view. This is called your election address. 

Please go to vote.wales/candidates for more information on the submission process for election addresses. The initial deadline for the submission of your election address is Tuesday 14 April 2026.

Please note you will need to provide your email address to the Constituency Returning Officer during nominations if you want to submit an election address. The Constituency Returning Officer will share your details including your (candidate/s and election agent) email with the EMB once your nomination has been processed. Your email address will not be published by the EMB

Access to Elected Office Funding Wales

Access to Elected Office Fund Wales: this fund provides financial support to disabled candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd and 2027 Local Government elections.