Whether you’re voting for the first time on 7 May or just need a refresher on what happens at a Senedd election, we’ve got all the information you need.
Wales has its own parliament – the Senedd.
The Senedd is where decisions are made about many aspects of life in Wales, like health, education, transport, and the environment.
From 2026 it will be made up of 96 Members, elected from all over Wales to speak up for their communities.
A Senedd election is your chance to choose who those Members are.
How does it work?
A Senedd election is when voters in Wales decide who they want to represent their local area – their constituency - in the Welsh Parliament.
In 2026 each area will have six ‘seats’ in the Senedd, which means each constituency will elect six Members.
On the day of the election you will have one vote for the political party or independent candidate you want to represent your constituency in the Senedd.
Why is this important?
The Senedd is the parliament of Wales. It makes laws for Wales in areas like health, schools, transport, farming, the environment and the Welsh language. Welsh laws look at the situation in Wales, which might be different to other parts of the UK.
So the Members you elect in May 2026 have the power to make decisions about things that affect everyone in Wales.
How do I vote?
If you’re aged 16 or over and live in Wales, you can vote in the 2026 Senedd Election.
But first you need to register. Registering online is simple and only takes five minutes.
Once you have registered you will be sent a polling card before the election. This will tell you where you need to go to vote (your polling station) on the day of the election.
Before the election
Political parties will prepare a list of up to eight candidates to stand in each constituency. Independent candidates can also stand for election.
You can find out who is standing for election in your area and decide who you want to vote for.
On election day
The next Senedd election will be on 7 May 2026. You do not need to bring ID when you vote in a Senedd election.
At your polling station you will be given a ballot paper and will have one vote for the party or independent candidate you want to represent you in the Senedd.
Your ballot paper will show the full list of candidates in your constituency, so you can still see who is standing for election.
How your vote works
- If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. So, if a party wins three seats in a constituency, the top three people on their list will become Members for that area.
- If an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will also win a seat in the Senedd for their constituency.
The seats will be allocated based on the share of votes each party or independent candidate gets.
So, if Party A gets 50% of the votes in a constituency, they will likely get three of the six seats. If Party B gets 30%, they will likely get two of the six seats. If an independent candidate has enough votes, they will also win a seat.
Find out more about the new voting system at the 2026 Senedd election.
Your Members
You can contact any of your Members – in person, online, or by phone – no matter who you voted for. They all represent you equally.
Read our blog to find out how Members work for you, both in Cardiff Bay and your community: What do Members of the Senedd do?