Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

The normal voting process at a polling station is straightforward and can be summarised as follows:

Polling station staff will:

• ask voters to confirm their name and address before making sure they are eligible to vote by checking against the register of electors
• place a mark against the voter’s entry on the register of electors
• call out the number and name of the elector
• add the elector number on to a list (the Corresponding Numbers List) next to the number of the ballot paper to be issued 
• ensure the ballot paper includes the official mark (e.g. a barcode or watermark)
• fold the ballot paper and then hand it to the voter unfolded so that they can see all of the options on the ballot paper

The elector will then:

• take the ballot paper to the polling both and mark the ballot paper in private, unless assisted by a companion or the Presiding Officer
• fold the marked ballot paper and show the ballot paper number and unique identifying mark on the back of the ballot paper to the Presiding Officer
• place the ballot paper in the ballot box and leave the polling station

Accessibility in polling stations

The Returning Officer has a responsibility to ensure that voting is accessible. They must provide each polling station with a range of equipment as is reasonable for the purposes of enabling or making it easier for disabled voters to vote independently and in secret.

The Presiding Officer can assist anyone who is unable to mark the ballot papers themselves.1

Alternatively, a voter may bring along someone they know and trust to assist them in marking their vote. The person assisting the voter must be aged 16 or over. A person can only assist a maximum of two voters at the election.2

Any person attending the polling station to assist an elector must complete a declaration to the Presiding Officer before they aid the elector in the polling booth.