One month left to register to vote at the May elections in Wales

Voters in Wales have just one month left to register to vote before the deadline for the local government elections. Anyone wanting to vote at the polls on 5 May must be registered by midnight on 14 April. 

Registration is quick and easy and can be done online at www.gov.uk/registertovote. 

A person can register to vote in the local government elections in Wales if they are:

  • aged 16 or over on polling day
  • a British citizen resident in Wales
  • an Irish, EU, qualifying Commonwealth or qualifying foreign citizen resident in Wales

Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again.

Rhydian Thomas, Head of the Electoral Commission, Wales said:

“This May, voters across Wales will be going to the polls to have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives. Following the extension to the voting franchise, 16-17 year olds and qualifying foreign nationals resident in Wales are eligible to vote in these elections.

“You can’t have a say in these elections unless you are registered to vote, which you can do online at www.gov.uk/registertovote. It only takes five minutes to register– time that you might otherwise spend waiting for the bath to run or the kettle to boil. So if you want to make sure your voice is heard and you’re not already registered, go online and register now.”

Only voters who have registered to vote can have their say in May. Those who wish to vote by post or by appointing someone they trust to vote in their place, known as a proxy, must apply to vote in this way, in addition to registering to vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 19 April, and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 26 April. 

For information on elections in your area, how to register to vote, or how to apply to vote by post or by proxy, voters can visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter. This page will continue to be updated ahead of the polls. 

Ends

For more information contact Ella Downing, Communications Officer on 02920 346 824, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or [email protected].

Notes to editors

 

  • The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
    • enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
    • regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
    • using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficiency
  • The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
  • To vote in the May local government elections in Wales a person must be registered to vote, 16 years or over on polling day and also be either a EU, UK or Irish citizen, qualifying Commonwealth or qualifying foreign citizen resident in Wales. British citizens living overseas who are registered to vote as overseas electors cannot vote in local government elections.