The Expert Panel report on Assembly Electoral Reform* was published on 12 December 2017.
- The report of the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform (PDF, 6.81 MB)
- Summary Report (PDF, 2.58 MB)
- Full statement from the Llywydd Elin Jones AM
- News article
Background
In November 2016, the Commission announced it would take forward work to address the capacity of the then Assembly.
In February 2017 the Llywydd announced the establishment of an independent Expert Panel on Electoral Reform to provide robust, politically impartial advice on the number of Members needed to effectively represent the people of Wales, the most suitable electoral system, and the minimum voting age.
Membership of the Panel
The Panel was chaired by Professor Laura McAllister. The other Panel members were Professor Rosie Campbell, Professor Sarah Childs, Rob Clements, Professor David Farrell, Dr Alan Renwick and Sir Paul Silk.
(Image L-R: Rob Clements, Professor Sarah Childs, Professor Laura McAllister, Sir Evan Paul Silk KCB, Dr Alan Renwick, Professor David Farrell)
The Panel had a wealth of expertise in the fields of electoral systems, parliamentary work and capacity, the constitutional position of the National Assembly, and wider issues of governance, including equalities, diversity and engagement.
*Since the panel reported, the Assembly has changed its name to the Senedd but old references have been retained on this page.
Meetings of the Expert Panel
Written Evidence
The Expert Panel asked for written evidence on:
- issues relating to electoral areas, in particular co-terminosity with Westminster constituencies;
- the minimum voting age for Assembly elections; and
- the capacity and size of the Assembly, and the appropriate electoral system by which Members should be elected.
The Panel considered the following responses:
- EP01 - Daniel Greenberg
- EP01(a) - Daniel Greenberg
- EP02 - Dr John Cox
- EP02(a) - Dr John Cox
- EP03 - Lord Lisvane
- EP04 - Institiute for Government
- EP05 - Professor John Coakley, Queen's University
- EP06 - Ralph Day
- EP07 - Dr Michael Cole, University of Liverpool
- EP08 - Alistar Doherty
- EP09 - Matthew Flinders, Leanne-Marie McCarthy-Cotter and Alexandra Meakin
- EP10 - Electoral Reform Society
- EP10(a) - Electoral Reform Society
- EP11 - Thomas Ehrhard
- EP12 - Professor Jean-Benoit Pilet
- EP13 - Electoral Commission
- EP13(a) - Electoral Commission
- EP14 - Professor Paul Chaney
- EP15 - Lisa Hart
- EP16 - Professor John Bradbury
- Ep17 - Kirsty Hemsley
- EP18 - Auditor General for Wales
- EP19 - Patrick Herring
- EP20 - Make Votes Matter
- EP21 - Tim Knight
- EP21 (a) -Tim Knight
- EP22 - Llanllechid Community Council
- EP23 - Fflur Elin, NUS Wales
- EP24 - Lynne Hill,Children in Wales
- EP25 - Dr Elin Royles, Aberystwyth University
- EP26 - Catrin James, Urdd Gobaith Cymru
- EP27 - Chris Rogers
- EP28 - Craig Johnson
- EP29 - Jami Abramson, EYST
- EP30 - Girlguiding Cymru
- EP31 - Chris Travis
- EP31 (a) - Chris Travis
- EP32 - Paul Hossack, Equalities and Human Rights Commission
- EP33 - Peter Price, European Strategy Counsel
Report
The Expert Panel reported in December 2017 and a number of its recommendations were taken forward as part of the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 ahead of the 2021 Senedd Elections.
- Read the full written statement
- Read the full press release
- Read the Fourth Assembly's Commission report: The Future of the Assembly and its capacity to deliver for Wales (PDF, 2.83MB)
