Key Dates
- Deadline for registering to vote - 20th April - Midnight
- Deadline for postal vote and proxy vote applications - 21st April - 5pm
- Polling day - 7th May
What is the Senedd?
The Senedd is the Welsh Parliament. It has 60 members. They make laws for Wales. It is separate from Westminster, which makes laws for the whole of the UK.
The Senedd only have influence over a limited number of areas. These are called devolved issues. These include:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Education
- Environment
- Health and social care
- Housing
- Local government
- Highways and transport
- Some control over income tax, stamp duty and landfill tax
- Welsh language
Some issues are not devolved, meaning they are decided by Westminster. The candidates likely won’t campaign on these issues for that reason. You can learn more about devolution here.
Key Terms
- Constituency - these divide up the country by area and population size, and each constituency chooses its representatives
- Manifesto - a list of promises that parties make to you before being elected
- Party - a group of politicians with the same policies.
Registering to Vote
You can register to vote online. It takes five minutes. You can also download a paper registration form.
You must register by 20th April 2026.
International Students
International students can vote in the Senedd election.
Rules vary for other elections - check here if you are unsure
Can students vote in two places?
You can register in two places, but you can’t vote in the same election twice.
If your home address is in Wales then you will have to choose between your home and term addresses for this election.
Who can I vote for?
You can check the candidates for Ceredigion Penfro here
For current members of the Senedd, you can use this website to see their past actions.
Don’t vote blindly - remember to thoroughly research candidates and policies before committing to them.
I am not from Wales. Can I vote?
Yes, anyone who is resident in Wales is able to vote in Senedd elections as long as they are registered to vote. That includes students from England, Scotland, the island of Ireland, and international students.
International students can use NUS's free Can I Vote? tool to check which elections are eligible to vote in in the UK: https://www.nus.org.uk/can-i-vote
What is my Senedd Election Constituency?
You can find your constituency by using the Senedd's postcode checker: https://senedd.wales/senedd-election-2026/what-is-my-constituency/
Knowing your constituency helps you understand who represents you, and who you’ll be voting for in the 2026 Senedd Election.
How Do I Vote?
- In person at a polling station - these are open from 7am to 10pm on polling day.
- Via post - you have to register for a postal vote by 21st April.
- Proxy vote - you can choose someone to vote on your behalf. / The deadline to apply is 5pm Tuesday 28th April 2026.
Will I need ID?
No. You don’t need photo ID for Senedd elections.
You may need it for other elections though - check the Electoral Commission website if needed.
Voting and Privacy
When you register you will be asked for your:
- Name
- Address
- National insurance number
- Nationality
- Age
This information automatically goes onto the Open Register. This is public information that can be bought and used by anyone for any purpose.
If you are concerned about your privacy, you can opt out of this when you register. You can also opt out at a later date.
The Electoral Register: Even if you opt out of the Open Register, your information will still appear on the Electoral Register. Access to this is more controlled and requires permission. It can be accessed by MPs, political parties, public libraries, credit reference agencies and government agencies.
Voting anonymously: If you have safety concerns about your details being on the Electoral Register, you can register to vote anonymously.