Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

Stage 1 - Check-in

Staff will deliver ballot boxes from the polling stations to the verification venue.

Ballot boxes will be checked in as they arrive.

Stage 2 - Verification

At the verification stage, each ballot box is processed separately from any other ballot box.

One by one, all ballot boxes are emptied onto tables and the empty boxes are shown to agents.

Staff count the number of ballot papers in each box from each polling station.

Staff verify that the number of ballot papers in each ballot box matches the number of papers issued, as recorded on the Presiding Officers’ ballot paper accounts.

During the verification stage the ballot papers are kept face up.

In the event of any discrepancies between the numbers of ballot papers in the ballot box, against the paperwork completed by the Presiding Officer, the reasons for any discrepancy will be established and a final verified total will be produced.

A statement of the verification will be produced. Agents can view or copy this statement if they wish.1  

If the count does not take place immediately following verification stage, the verified boxes will be stored securely. Counting agents can attach their seals to the boxes if they wish.2

Stage 3 - Counting of the votes

Before counting commences, postal ballot papers must be mixed with other ballot papers from at least one ballot box and ballot papers from a polling station must be mixed with ballot papers from at least one other polling stations ballot box.3

Staff sort ballot papers by political party or individual candidate.

Staff count the number of votes cast for each political party or individual candidate.

The provisional total numbers of votes may be shared with party list candidates and the election agent for that party list, individual candidates, their election agent, and any appointed counting agents.

Recounts4

Party list candidates and the election agent for that party list, individual candidates, their election agent and in their absence, a counting agent appointed by them can ask the Returning Officer or a deputy to recount the votes.

A recount can be refused if the request is unreasonable.