Senedd Election – 7 May 2026
Ceredigion Penfro Constituency
Changes to the Senedd and the new voting system
Significant changes are due to come into force prior to the next Senedd polls scheduled on 7 May 2026. What you need to know can be found on Senedd Cymru's Countdown to the 2026 Senedd Election: Five things you need to know page.
Wales will have 16 constituencies instead of the current 40. Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru created the new constituencies for Wales and the Senedd will have 96 Members instead of 60. Each constituency will elect six Members.
For Ceredigion the Commission determined that a county constituency be created from: The Ceredigion Preseli UK Parliamentary constituency and The Mid and South Pembrokeshire UK Parliamentary constituency. The Commission designated the single name of Ceredigion Penfro for this constituency. You can find out more information on the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru 2026 Review: Final Determinations page.
Map – Here is a map of the new constituency map of Ceredigion Penfro constituency.
New voting system
The new voting system is called a ‘closed proportional list system’. This means you vote for a political party (rather than individuals) or an independent candidate.
The ballot paper will show the full list of candidates in your constituency, so you can still see who you're voting for.
If a party wins enough votes, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. If an independent candidate wins enough votes, they will win a seat in the Senedd.
Seats will reflect the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate gets.
Why do Senedd elections matter?
The Welsh Government is responsible for deciding how Wales is run. They choose what to spend public money on and decide how to deliver public services.
It is where Welsh laws are passed and where some Welsh taxes are set. Members of the Senedd look at the work of the Welsh Government and question its decisions and spending in the Senedd.
The Senedd looks closely at the work of the Welsh Government and questions its ministers. It examines government plans and suggests changes. Senedd members are also able to raise issues in the Senedd that are important to you.
The Senedd is responsible for services such as health, education, transport.
Further information regarding the role of the Senedd can be found here.
Who can vote in this election
To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote (see below how to do this).
When registered, the following can vote in the Senedd Election on 7 May 2026:
- Aged 16 years old and above
- British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizens
- EU citizens
- Qualifying foreign citizen (a qualifying foreign citizen is a citizen of another country who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need such permission).
For further information please visit the Electoral Commission website: (Which elections you can vote in | Electoral Commission)
You do not need Voter ID to be able to vote at this election.
Register to vote
To vote in the Senedd election, you must be registered by Monday, 20 April 2026.
You only need to register once – not for every election. You will need to register again if you have changed your name, address or nationality.
You can register to vote online. It will only take 5 minutes to register.
To register you will be asked for the following details:
- your full name,
- your postal address,
- your date of birth, and
- your national insurance number (if you are 16 years of age or above). It helps to have your National Insurance number to hand, you can find it on your payslip, P60, or letters about tax, pensions and benefits.
If you cannot provide any of these details for any reason, we may need to contact you for further information.
If you have provided your email address, you should get a confirmation e-mail after you have made an application to register.
If you have not provided an email address, you will get a letter in the post.
To register to vote, you must be aged 14 or over (but you can’t vote until you’re 16 or 18 depending on the election) and one of the following:
- a UK or Irish citizen
- a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
- a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK
- a qualifying foreign citizen
For further information, please visit the Electoral Commission website: (Who can vote in UK elections | Electoral Commission)
Don’t leave registration until the last minute, just in case you have any problems.
Accessible voting
View information on what we do to make sure everyone can vote in Ceredigion.
Deciding how to vote
There are many ways in which you can vote if you are registered to vote:
Voting in person at a Polling Station
When you vote in person, you go to the polling station allocated to you. This is based on your address on the electoral register.
Polling stations are open from 7.00am to 10.00pm on polling day, 7 May 2026 and are usually public buildings like schools or local halls.
Before you go to vote, check where your polling station is. It might not be the closest one to where to you live, and it might have changed since the last time you voted.
You can only vote in person at your allocated polling station.
Your polling station address will be on your poll card. We will send the card by post a few weeks before polling day.
Find your polling station: (Maps of local areas in - Ceredigion County Council)
What to expect at the polling station
You will need to give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive.
You will be given a ballot paper which has details of how to vote and the voting options for the poll. If you need any help to cast your vote, please ask the staff in the polling station.
Find out more about voting in person.
Voting by post
You can apply to vote by post for:
- a single election on a specific date
- a specific period, or
- permanently
You will need to download and print the postal vote application form, complete it and send it to us by email or post.
The application form has instructions on how to fill it in correctly.
You will need to provide your date of birth and sign your application form. These are used to confirm your identity when you vote by post.
You will not need to provide a National Insurance number.
If you cannot sign the form or cannot sign in a consistent way, please contact us.
If you cannot download and print this form, you can contact us to request a print of this form.
You will be a sent a postal vote ballot pack before the election. If you have a postal vote, you will not be able to vote in person at a polling station.
If you wish to cancel your postal vote for this election, you will need to do so by 5.00pm on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
Completing and returning your postal vote
When voting by post, you should:
- mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
- fill in the postal voting statement
- put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
- seal the envelope yourself
Post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it is counted.
If you are too late to post your ballot paper, you can take it to your local polling station by 10pm on election day or to the Electoral Services office at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron SA46 0PA.
What to do if your ballot paper is spoilt or lost
Your ballot paper needs to clearly display your voting choice. If it has been damaged or if you lose it, you need to get another one.
You can either:
- contact us to ask for a replacement on 01545 572032
- collect a replacement from us at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron SA46 0PA up to 5.00pm on polling day, 7 May 2026.
You cannot vote at a polling station if you registered to vote by post or if your ballot paper was lost or damaged.
Voting by proxy
If you know that you won’t be able to get to the polling station on polling day, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy.
The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote on your behalf by post.
Your proxy should be someone you trust to vote for you. You will need to tell them how you wish your vote to be cast.
To apply to vote by proxy, you will need to download and print the voting by proxy registration form, complete it, sign it, and send it to us by post or e-mail.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote in this election is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026.
Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website: (Apply to vote by proxy | Electoral Commission)
Emergency proxy vote
In certain circumstances, where you have an emergency that means you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy.
This must be something that you weren't aware of before 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026 Emergency proxy applications can be made up to 5.00pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026.
Circumstances where you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy include:
- Medical emergency
- Away for work.
If you need to apply for an emergency proxy, please telephone Electoral Services Team on 01545 572032.
Further information can be found on the Electoral Commission website: (Emergency proxy vote | Electoral Commission)
Key dates
- The deadline for registering to vote is Monday, 20 April 2026;
- If you have moved home recently and have not registered to vote at your new address, you must do so by Monday, 20 April 2026;
- If you wish to vote by post or by postal proxy, the deadline to apply is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 21 April 2026;
- If you wish to vote by proxy (not emergency proxy), the deadline to apply is 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026;
- Emergency proxy votes may be available from after 5.00pm, Tuesday, 28 April 2026 until 5.00pm on 7 May 2026 but only under specific extenuating circumstances, find details on the Electoral Commission website or telephone 01545 572032.
- Polling Day is Thursday, 7 May 2026. Polling Stations will be open from 7.00am to 10.00pm.
If you need further information contact Electoral Services by e-mail on electoralservices@ceredigion.gov.uk, by phone on 01545 572032 or by post to Electoral Services, Cyngor Sir Ceredigion Penmorfa, Aberaeron SA46 0PA.
If you live in Pembrokeshire, you will need to contact Pembrokeshire Electoral Services by e-mail electoralservices@pembrokeshire.gov.uk , by phone 01437 775844 or by post to County Hall, Haverfordwest SA61 1TP.