Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Senedd election

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Planning for the verification, count and result collation

You are responsible for the verification of the ballot paper accounts and the counting of the votes for your constituency.1

There are a variety of ways in which the verification and count can be organised across the constituency. You will need to decide which is the best option for your area, based on the local circumstances of your constituency, as part of your planning for how you will safely and securely deliver the verification and count processes. 

When deciding how to organise the verification and count processes for the constituency, you will need to consider other practical factors which might affect the organisation and timing of the verification, count and result collation, such as:

  • the size of the constituency
  • whether the constituency covers more than one local authority
  • the geography of the constituency
  • size and capacity of venues
  • turnout
  • the ability to ensure transparency for candidates, agents and observers
  • the cost of using the venue(s)

When planning for the delivery of the verification and count you should keep your general planning assumptions under review to ensure they continue to be realistic and robust. This should include reviewing your plans at the close of nominations when the number of candidates is finalised and revisiting your assumptions on turnout, speed and capability of count staff and expected timing for completing the various count stages in light of this.

Such a review will help inform a realistic assessment of whether you will be able to deliver the overall plan for the count, and whether and when it may be necessary to implement contingency plans. In all cases, your plan should be flexible enough to allow you to respond if any of your assumptions change, or if any known risks materialise and should cover what contingency actions you will take in such circumstances.

Your plan should also identify key points during the count process at which you will review progress against the expected schedule. This progress review should be used to keep candidates, agents and the media informed of the progress of the count.

In developing your plans, you should have regard to the Commission’s principles for a well-run verification and count and consider other practical factors that may affect the organisation and timing of the verification and count. For more information see our guidance on verifying and counting the votes. 

In the case of a constituency that covers more than one local authority you will need to decide if the verification and count will be centralised or decentralised. 

In the case of decentralised verification and counts you should ensure that a process is in place for the transmission and receipt of any local totals to the central hub. You will also need to establish a clear audit trail, that is timely, and supports the development of an accurate result.

In the case of a central constituency count you may decide to verify the ballot papers locally before transferring to a central counting venue, where all of the votes for the constituency would then be counted or you may decide on a count where votes are both verified and counted in one central counting venue. 

You should liaise closely with any appointed deputies from other local authorities in your constituency as appropriate when deciding on the approach. 

Last updated: 4 February 2026