2026 Senedd election

This election marks a major shift in how Welsh democracy operates. Instead of just picking individual candidates, voters now help shape which parties gain seats by ranking them in order of preference. It’s more fair for smaller parties and gives voters greater influence over who controls the Senedd. The change means politics in Wales will be more representative, but also more complex for average voters to navigate.

The 2026 Senedd election on 7 May will use party-list proportional representation to elect 96 members across 16 regional constituencies. Voters will cast two votes: one for a local candidate and one for a political party. This is the first election after major reforms, including a shorter four-year term and larger legislature.