Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Senedd election

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Resources for Returning Officers at Senedd elections

Returning Officer

Questions and answers about our web based guidance - Scotland and Wales (PDF)

Planning for the election

Absent voters list request form - candidates (DOCX)
Ballot paper account exercise Wales Bilingual (DOCX)
Briefing for candidates and agents - Senedd (for use at polls on or after 7 May 2026) (PPTX)
Briefing for polling station staff - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (PPTX)
Candidate contact information sheet for party lists - Senedd (DOCX)
Contact information sheet for individual candidates - Senedd (DOCX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors in Scotland and Wales (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Election timetable 7 May 2026 - Senedd (DOCX)
FAQs for frontline workers - Wales (DOCX)
Nomination checklist Senedd election individual candidates (DOCX)
Nomination checklist Senedd election party lists (DOCX)
Nomination pack Senedd individual candidate - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Nomination pack Senedd party list - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Polling station handbook - Senedd elections (PDF)
Polling station quick guide for Senedd election (PDF)
Polling station scenarios Senedd (DOCX)
Polling station quiz Senedd (DOCX)
Project Plan - Senedd (XLSX)
Register request form - candidates (DOCX)
Risk Register Generic (excl UKPGE and SLG)(XLSX)
Secrecy requirements the poll - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

Starting the election timetable

Election timetable 7 May 2026 - Senedd (DOCX)
Notice of election Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)

Nominations

Candidate contact information sheet for party lists - Senedd (DOCX)
Contact information sheet for individual candidates - Senedd (DOCX)
Nomination checklist Senedd election individual candidates (DOCX)
Nomination checklist Senedd election party lists (DOCX)
Nomination pack Senedd individual candidate - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Nomination pack Senedd party list - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Notice of Poll, statement of persons and parties nominated and situation of polling stations Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)
Withdrawal form Senedd candidate on party list by the registered party (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)
Withdrawal form Senedd individual candidate (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Withdrawal form Senedd full party list (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)
Withdrawal form Senedd candidate on party list (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(DOCX)

The below resources are intended to complement your briefings and written support to candidates and agents. You may share these links with prospective candidates and agents in your area as your see fit.

Completing your nomination papers | Guidance for Senedd individual candidates
Completing the nomination papers | Guidance for Senedd party list nominating officers

Agents

Nomination pack Senedd individual candidate - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Nomination pack Senedd party list - for use in polls held on or after 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Postal voting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Polling agent appointment form - for use at polls on or after 7 May 2026 (SENEDD Individual) (DOCX)
Polling agent appointment form - for use at polls on or after 7 May 2026 (SENEDD Party List) (DOCX)
Counting agent appointment form - for use at polls on or after 7 May 2026 (SENEDD Individual) (DOCX)
Counting agent appointment form - for use at polls on or after 7 May 2026 (SENEDD Party List) (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements postal voting - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements the count - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements the poll - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)

Absent voting

Election timetable 7 May 2026 - Senedd (DOCX)
FAQs for postal vote rejection notices (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account generic (DOCX)
Postal vote issuing flowchart (DOCX)
Postal vote matching spreadsheet (XLSX)
Postal vote opening flowchart - Senedd (PDF)
Postal vote retrieval flowchart (DOCX)
Re-issuing of lost/spoilt postal votes flowchart (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements postal voting - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)

Polling station voting

Briefing for polling station staff - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (PPTX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors in Scotland and Wales (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a voter with disabilities Senedd (DOCX)
Log to record details of postal voters who claim not to have applied for a postal vote - Bilingual Wales (DOCX)
Observer access restrictions log - Wales (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers Bilingual/ Cyngor i Swyddogion Llywyddu ar gambersonadu VID (PDF)
Polling station handbook - Senedd elections (PDF)
Polling station quick guide for Senedd election (PDF)
Tellers dos and don'ts SP SLG Senedd LGW (PDF)
Tellers guidance SP SLG Senedd LGW (PDF)

Verification and count

Checklist of items the Presiding Officer should hand in at verification venue (or collection point) SP, SLG, Senedd, LGW (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat Senedd rejected (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026)(PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat Senedd Allowed (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (PDF)
Observer access restrictions log - Wales (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements the count - Senedd (for use at polls taking place on or after 7 May 2026) (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)
Template example scripts for Senedd election count announcements bi-lingual (DOCX)

After the election

Access supply and inspection checklist SP SLG Senedd LGW (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Last updated: 27 February 2026