Senedd election 2026 media guide
Introduction
Wales votes in the Senedd election on 7 May 2026. This guide sets out what the DBCC is responsible for at this election. It also gives information which may help you in your coverage of the election, sets out the DBCC’s own media plans during the next several weeks, and gives you information on how the DBCC may be able to help you further during the election period.
Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru
Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is responsible for:
Electoral Boundaries
Remuneration
The Commission is responsible for the remuneration of specified roles. These roles do not include Members of the Senedd.
The Electoral Management Board for Wales
The Electoral Management Board is responsible for co-ordinating the election by working with Returning Officers, Electoral Administrators, and other relevant bodies. It can issue binding directions on the conduct of the election.
It is also responsible for vote.wales, the Welsh Elections Information Platform.
Senedd constituencies
Wales has 16 constituencies. 6 Members of the Senedd will be elected from each one.
These constituencies were formed following a review by the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.
The rules of the review meant we had to combine Wales’ 32 UK parliamentary constituencies into pairs. Each pair had to be contiguous.
Constituency names
The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 states that:
Determining the names of the Senedd constituencies
5(1) Each Senedd constituency must have a single name for the purposes of identifying the constituency in communication through Welsh and English, unless the Commission considers this would be unacceptable (in which case the constituency may have different names for the purposes of identifying it in communication through Welsh and English).
Every constituency has a single name and constituencies should always be referred to by these names. There are no translations of these names.
- Bangor Conwy Môn
- Clwyd
- Fflint Wrecsam
- Gwynedd Maldwyn
- Ceredigion Penfro
- Sir Gaerfyrddin
- Gŵyr Abertawe
- Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd
- Afan Ogwr Rhondda
- Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr
- Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni
- Sir Fynwy Torfaen
- Casnewydd Islwyn
- Caerdydd Penarth
- Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf
- Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg
The Commission is happy to support you with maps, data, and any other relevant information about the Senedd constituencies.
Directions
The Electoral Management Board can issue binding directions to Returning Officers on the conduct of the election.
The EMB directed that the counting of the votes should begin between 9am and 11am on Friday 8 May.
You can find the full list of directions on the DBCC website.
The EMB does not plan to issue further directions for this election.
The count
Following the election, counting will begin between 9am and 11am on Friday 8 May.
Returning officers may decide to verify the votes overnight. Access to the verification is the same whenever it takes place. Please contact Returning Officers directly to make your arrangements.
The declaration
The EMB has not issued a direction on the declaring of the results.
The Electoral Commission has provided Returning Officers with a script which they may follow.
Full results will be made available to media as soon as practicable by the Returning Officers.
If you have particular questions or requests regarding the declaration, please contact the Returning Officers.
vote.wales
This is a brand new website, launched by the Electoral Management Board which gives voters all the information they need to vote with confidence.
The website is being launched in early March and media will be informed of its launch. There will be a significant advertising campaign to promote the website, running from early March until the day of the election.
Political parties and individual candidates can submit their freepost election leaflets to vote.wales for online publication. The first publication date for these leaflets will be 16 April.
Vote.wales includes:
Voting Information
- Who can vote
- How to vote in a polling station
- How to vote by post
- How to vote by proxy
- Accessible voting
- Reasons to vote
- How the voting system works
Information about the Senedd
- What is the Senedd?
- What does the Senedd do?
Local information
- Postcode searchable information
- Your constituency
- Your polling station
- Your local candidates
- Election notices
- Freepost election leaflets
- Accessibility information for your polling station
Election results
- Details to be confirmed post-election
News
- Non-political election news during the campaign
Where we can help
The Commission can offer spokespeople for interviews to discuss any topics within its remit, including:
- vote.wales and the availability of election information
- The timing of the count
- The constituency boundaries
- Any other topic where discussions can be kept politically neutral
The Commission is also happy to provide maps, data, advice, and statements wherever helpful.