One week left to register to vote for Senedd election

With just one week left to register to vote in time for the Senedd election on 7 May, the Electoral Commission is urging voters to register before the deadline of 11.59pm on Monday 20 April.  

Registering takes just 5 minutes and can be done online at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Voters need their name, address and National Insurance number. Anyone previously on the register who has recently moved home or whose details have changed will need to register to vote again.

16-17 year olds and qualifying foreign citizens resident in Wales can register to vote at this election. Despite this, Electoral Commission research shows that just 43% of 16–17-year-olds are registered to vote in Wales, compared to 95% of those over 65. Other groups who are less likely to be registered include students, recent home movers and private renters, and foreign nationals.

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

“Only people registered to vote can have their say at the Senedd election on issues important to Wales. If this is your first time voting, or if your details have changed since you last voted, make sure you register by midnight on Monday 20 April.

“Alongside our voter registration advertising campaign, we are proud to work closely with partner organisations across Wales including Shelter Cymru, Race Equality First, RNIB Cymru and Children in Wales to provide additional support and resources to groups that we know are less likely to be registered.”

Christina Tanti, Head of Research at Race Equality First, said:

“Minority ethnic people in Wales are routinely under-represented when it comes to voter turnout in elections - not because of a lack of interest, but because of barriers such as language, limited confidence, and a lack of clear, accessible information about how voting and democratic participation works in Wales.

“Race Equality First are working with minority ethnic communities to dismantle those barriers by providing clear, impartial and practical information and support around registration and voting. It’s this kind of meaningful, community-focussed engagement that helps to create a more equal and representative democracy in Wales.”

Voters can use the postcode look-up tool on the Commission’s website to find their polling station. Voters in Wales will not need to show ID to vote at this election.

Those who are registered to vote but cannot make it to their local polling station can register for a postal or proxy vote. Voters have until 5pm on the 21st of April to register for a postal vote or 5pm on the 28th of April for a proxy vote.  

Ends

The Commission has spokespeople available to discuss our voter information and voter registration campaigns. Please contact Ella Farrell, Communications and Engagement Officer, on [email protected] or 0292 0346 824 if you have any questions or interview requests.