The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025

1. Introductory Text

2. PART 1 General

   1. 1. Title, commencement, revocation and savings provision

   2. 2. Interpretation

3. PART 2 Senedd Cymru franchise and its exercise

   1. 3. Registration and absent voting

   2. 4. Polling districts and places at Senedd elections

   3. 5. Manner of voting at Senedd elections

   4. 6. Absent vote at Senedd elections for a particular or an indefinite period

   5. 7. Absent vote at a particular Senedd election

   6. 8. Absent voters lists at Senedd elections

   7. 9. Proxies at Senedd elections

   8. 10. Voting as proxy at Senedd elections

   9. 11. Electors’ signatures and use of personal identifier information

   10. 12. Offence: false information

   11. 13. Other offences relating to absent voting

   12. 14. Absent voting at Senedd elections: miscellaneous

   13. 15. Combination of polls at Senedd and local government elections

   14. 16. Combination of polls at Senedd and Police and Crime Commissioner elections

   15. 17. Rules for Senedd elections

   16. 18. Returning officers

   17. 19. Officers of councils to be placed at disposal of returning officers

   18. 20. Returning officers: discharge of functions

   19. 21. Returning officers: correction of procedural errors

   20. 22. Returning officers: general

   21. 23. Payments by and to returning officer

   22. 24. Detailed assessment of returning officer’s account

   23. 25. Loan of equipment for Senedd elections

   24. 26. Effect of registers

   25. 27. Effect of misdescription

   26. 28. Discharge of registration duties

   27. 29. Payment of expenses of registration officer

   28. 30. Personation

   29. 31. Other voting offences

   30. 32. Breach of official duty

   31. 33. Tampering with nomination papers, ballot papers etc.

   32. 34. False statements in nomination papers etc.

   33. 35. Requirement of secrecy

   34. 36. Prohibition on publication of exit polls

4. PART 3 The election campaign

   1. 37. Interpretation of Part 3

   2. 38. Computation of time for the purposes of Part 3

   3. The Election Agent

      1. 39. Appointment of election agent

      2. 40. Nomination of sub-agent

      3. 41. Office of election agent and sub-agent

      4. 42. Effect of default in election agent’s appointment

   4. Donation to Candidates

      1. 43. Control of donations to individual candidates

      2. 44. Individual candidates: payment of expenses by or through election agent

      3. 45. Individual and party list candidates: expenses which may be paid otherwise than by an election agent

      4. 46. Individual candidates: expenses incurred other than for election purposes

      5. 47. Individual candidates: prohibition of expenses not authorised by election agent etc.

      6. 48. Individual candidates: limitation of election expenses

      7. 49. Individual candidates: the regulated period

      8. 50. Power to vary provisions concerning election expenses

      9. 51. Time for sending in and paying claims

      10. 52. Disputed claims

      11. 53. Election agent’s claim

      12. 54. Individual candidates: return as to election expenses

      13. 55. Individual candidates: declaration as to election expenses

      14. 56. Party list candidates: declarations as to personal expenses

      15. 57. Circumstances in which no return or declaration is required

      16. 58. Penalty for failure as respects return or declarations

      17. 59. Penalty for sitting or voting where no return and declarations are delivered etc.

      18. 60. Authorised excuses for failures as to return and declarations

      19. 61. Court’s power to require information from election agent or sub-agent

      20. 62. Duty of returning officer to forward returns and declarations to the Electoral Commission

      21. 63. Publication of time and place of inspection of returns and declarations

      22. 64. Inspection of returns and declarations

      23. 65. Meaning of “election expenses”

      24. 66. Property, goods, services etc. provided free of charge or at a discount

   5. Publicity at Senedd elections

      1. 67. Right to send election address post free

      2. 68. Broadcasting from outside United Kingdom

      3. 69. Broadcasting of local items during election period

      4. 70. Imitation poll cards and notifications

   6. Election meetings

      1. 71. Schools and rooms for Senedd election meetings

      2. 72. Disturbances at Senedd election meetings

   7. Agency by election officials and canvassing by police officers

      1. 73. Officials not to act for candidates

      2. 74. Illegal canvassing by police officers

      3. 75. False statements as to candidates

      4. 76. Corrupt withdrawal from candidature

      5. 77. Payments for exhibition of election notices

      6. 78. Printer’s name and address on election publications

      7. 79. Prohibition of paid canvassers

      8. 80. Providing money for illegal purposes

      9. 81. Bribery

      10. 82. Treating

      11. 83. Undue influence

      12. 84. Rights of creditors

      13. 85. Savings as to Senedd election

5. PART 4 Legal Proceedings

   1. 86. Interpretation of Part 4

   2. 87. Method of questioning Senedd election

   3. 88. Rules of procedure

   4. 89. Presentation and service of Senedd election petition

   5. 90. Time for presentation or amendment of Senedd election petition

   6. 91. Constitution of election court and place of trial

   7. 92. Judges’ expenses and reception

   8. 93. Attendance of shorthand writer

   9. 94. Security for costs

   10. 95. Petition at issue

   11. 96. List of petitions

   12. 97. Trial of petition

   13. 98. Witnesses

   14. 99. Duty to answer relevant questions

   15. 100. Expenses of witnesses

   16. 101. Conclusion of trial of Senedd election petition

   17. 102. Election determined to be void by election court

   18. 103. Special case for determination of High Court

   19. 104. Withdrawal of petition

   20. 105. Costs of petition

   21. 106. Neglect or refusal to pay costs

   22. 107. Further provision as to costs

   23. 108. Appeals

   24. 109. Jurisdiction

   25. 110. Report as to a person’s guilt of corrupt or illegal practice

   26. 111. Report as to candidate’s guilt of corrupt or illegal practice

   27. 112. Consequence of a candidate being reported guilty of corrupt or illegal practice

   28. 113. Incapacities of being reported personally guilty of corrupt or illegal practice

   29. 114. Justice of the peace

   30. 115. Members of legal and certain other professions

   31. 116. Holder of licence or certificated under Licensing Acts

   32. 117. Avoidance of election for general corruption

   33. 118. Avoidance of election for employing corrupt agent

   34. 119. Votes to be struck off for corrupt or illegal practices

   35. 120. Application for relief

   36. 121. Prosecutions for corrupt practices

   37. 122. Prosecutions for illegal practices

   38. 123. Conviction of illegal practice on charge of corrupt practice

   39. 124. Incapacities on conviction of corrupt or illegal practice at a Senedd election

   40. 125. Mitigation and remission of incapacities

   41. 126. Illegal payments or employments

   42. 127. Time limit for prosecutions

   43. 128. Prosecution of offences committed outside the United Kingdom

   44. 129. Offences by associations or body of persons

   45. 130. Evidence by certificate of returning officer

   46. 131. Evidence by certificate of electoral registration

   47. 132. Director of Public Prosecutions

   48. 133. Costs

   49. 134. Service of notices

   50. 135. Computation of time for purposes of Part 4

6. PART 5 Miscellaneous and supplemental

   1. 136. Advertisements

   2. 137. Senedd constituencies not wholly within a county or county borough

   3. 138. Accessibility of certain documents

   4. 139. Forms: general

   5. 140. Public notices and declarations

   6. 141. Electronic applications, notices and signatures

   7. 142. Publication of and inspection of documents

   8. 143. Interference with notices etc.

   9. 144. Premises used for election purposes

   10. 145. Dissolution of the Senedd

   11. 146. Consequential amendments

7. Signature

8. 1. SCHEDULE 1

      Absent voting at Senedd elections

      1. 1. General requirements for applications for an absent vote

      2. 2. Additional requirements for applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from that stated in application

      3. 3. Additional requirements for applications for ballot papers to be sent to different address from that shown in the record kept under article 6 or 10

      4. 4. The personal identifiers record

      5. 5. Notification of rejected postal voting statement

      6. 6. Additional requirements for applications for appointment of a proxy

      7. 7. Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a particular or indefinite period on grounds of severe sight-impairment or other disability

      8. 8. Additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a particular or indefinite period based on occupation, service, employment or attendance on a course

      9. 9. Additional requirements for applications to vote by proxy in respect of a particular Senedd election

      10. 10. Additional requirements for applications for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular election: grounds relating to occupation, service or employment

      11. 11. Closing dates for applications

      12. 12. Grant or refusal of applications

      13. 13. Notice of appeal

      14. 14. Cancellation of proxy appointment

      15. 15. Inquiries by registration officer

      16. 16. Requirement to provide fresh signatures at five yearly intervals

      17. 17. Requirement to provide fresh signatures following rejection of postal voting statement

      18. 18. Records and lists kept under articles 6, 8 and 10

      19. 19. Conditions on the use, supply and inspection of absent voter records or lists

      20. 20. Protection of information about persons aged under 16

      21. 21. Marked register for polling stations

      22. 22. Certificate of employment at a Senedd election

      23. 23. Notification by registration officer

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      Issue and receipt of postal ballot papers

      1. 1. Interpretation

      2. Issue of postal ballot papers

         1. 2. Combination of polls

         2. 3. Form of postal voting statement

         3. 4. Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on issue of postal ballot papers

         4. 5. Persons entitled to be present at proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

         5. 6. Appointment of agents to be present at proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers

         6. 7. Notification of requirement of secrecy

         7. 8. Time when postal ballot papers are to be issued

         8. 9. Procedure on issue of postal ballot paper

         9. 10. Refusal to issue postal ballot papers

         10. 11. Envelopes

         11. 12. Security of marked lists

         12. 13. Delivery of postal ballot papers

         13. 14. Spoilt postal ballot paper

         14. 15. Lost postal ballot papers

         15. 16. Cancellation of postal ballot papers

      3. Receipt of postal ballot papers

         1. 17. Notice of opening of postal ballot paper envelopes

         2. 18. Postal ballot boxes and receptacles

         3. 19. Receipt of covering envelope

         4. 20. Opening of postal voters’ ballot box

         5. 21. Opening of covering envelopes

         6. 22. Confirming receipt of postal voting statements

         7. 23. Procedure in relation to postal voting statements: personal identifier verification

         8. 24. Opening of ballot paper envelopes

         9. 25. Retrieval of cancelled postal ballot papers

         10. 26. Lists of rejected postal ballot papers

         11. 27. Checking of lists kept under paragraph 26

         12. 28. Sealing of receptacles

         13. 29. Abandoned poll

         14. 30. Forwarding of documents

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      Combination of polls: Senedd and local government elections

      1. PART 1 General

         1. 1. Returning officers and polling stations

         2. 2. Functions at combined polls

         3. 3. Modification of provisions about expenses in this Order and the 1983 Act

      2. PART 2 Modifications to Schedule 5 to apply where the poll at a Senedd general election is taken together with a poll at a local government election under article 15(1)

         1. 4. Modifications to Schedule 5: general provision

         2. 5. Rule 27A (colour of ballot papers)

         3. 6. Rule 31 (notice of poll)

         4. 7. Rule 36 (issue of official poll cards)

         5. 8. Rule 37 (equipment of polling stations)

         6. 9. Rule 38 (appointment of polling and counting agents)

         7. 10. Rule 41 (admission to polling station)

         8. 11. Rule 44 (questions to be put to voters)

         9. 12. Rule 46 (voting procedure)

         10. 13. Rule 47 (voters with a disability or unable to read: marking of votes by presiding officer)

         11. 14. Rule 48 (voters with a disability or unable to read: assistance of companions)

         12. 15. Rule 49 (voting with the assistance of a companion: supplemental provision)

         13. 16. Rule 51 (tendered ballot papers: duties of presiding officer)

         14. 17. Rule 53 (correction of errors on the day of poll)

         15. 18. Rule 55 (procedure on close of poll)

         16. 19. Rule 58 (the count: steps)

         17. 20. Rule 72 (death of candidate)

         18. 21. Rule 73 (abandoned poll)

      3. PART 3 Application of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021 where the poll to fill a casual vacancy or vacancies occurring in the office of councillor for a county or county borough council is taken together with the poll at a Senedd general election under article 15(1)

         1. 22. Application and modification of the Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021: general provision

         2. 23. Rule 3 (interpretation)

         3. 24. Rule 5 (conduct of elections to the council of a principal area)

         4. 25. Schedule 2 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors for a principal area where poll is taken together with poll at a relevant election)

      4. PART 4 Application of the Local Election (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021 where the poll to fill a casual vacancy or vacancies of councillors to a community council is taken together with the poll at a Senedd general election under article 15(1)

         1. 26. Application and Modification of the Local Election (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021: general provision

         2. 27. Rule 3 (interpretation)

         3. 28. Rule 4 (conduct of elections to a community council)

         4. 29. Schedule 2 (rules for conduct of an election of councillors for a community where poll is taken together with poll at a relevant election)

   4. SCHEDULE 4

      Combination of polls: Senedd elections and police and crime commissioner elections

      1. PART 1 General

         1. 1. Returning officers and polling stations

         2. 2. Functions at combined polls

         3. 3. Modification of provisions about expenses in this Order and the 2011 Act

      2. PART 2 Modifications to Schedule 5 to apply where the poll at a Senedd general election is taken together with a poll at a police and crime commissioner election under article 16(1) or (3)

         1. 4. Modifications to Schedule 5: general provisions

         2. 5. Rule 27A (colour of ballot papers)

         3. 6. Rule 31 (notice of poll)

         4. 7. Rule 36 (issue of official poll cards)

         5. 8. Rule 37 (equipment of polling stations)

         6. 9. Rule 38 (appointment of polling and counting agents)

         7. 10. Rule 41 (admission to polling station)

         8. 11. Rule 44 (questions to be put to voters)

         9. 12. Rule 46 (voting procedure)

         10. 13. Rule 47 (voters with a disability or unable to read: marking of votes by presiding officer)

         11. 14. Rule 48 (voters with a disability or unable to read: assistance of companions)

         12. 15. Rule 49 (voting with the assistance of a companion: supplemental provision)

         13. 16. Rule 51 (tendered ballot papers: duties of presiding officer)

         14. 17. Rule 53 (correction of errors on the day of poll)

         15. 18. Rule 55 (procedure on close of poll)

         16. 19. Rule 56 (arrangements for the counting of votes)

         17. 20. Rule 58 (the count: steps)

         18. 21. Rule 67 (delivery of documents to registration officer at contested elections)

         19. 22. Rule 72 (death of candidate)

         20. 23. Rule 73 (abandoned poll)

   5. SCHEDULE 5

      Senedd election rules

      1. PART 1 Provision as to time

         1. 1. Timetable

         2. 2. Computation of time

      2. PART 2 Stages common to contested and uncontested elections

         1. Notice of election

            1. 3. Notice of election

         2. Nomination

            1. 4. Duty of returning officer to supply forms of nomination etc.

            2. 5. Nomination of individual candidates

            3. 6. Nomination of registered political parties and party list candidates

            4. 7. Party nomination paper: name or description of registered political party

            5. 8. Home address form

            6. 9. Consent to nomination

            7. 10. Consent to nomination: statements of party membership

            8. 11. Deposit

            9. 12. Places for delivery of nomination papers

            10. 13. Right to attend nomination

            11. 14. Decisions as to the validity of individual nomination papers

            12. 15. Decisions as to the validity of party nomination papers

            13. 16. Withdrawal of candidates

            14. 17. Publication of statement of parties and other persons nominated

            15. 18. Use of commonly used names in statement of parties and persons nominated

            16. 19. Names that are the same or similar

            17. 20. Correction of minor errors in nomination papers, home address forms or consent to nomination forms

            18. 21. Inspection of nomination papers and consent to nomination forms

            19. 22. Inspection of home address forms

            20. 23. Adjournment of nomination proceedings in the case of riot

         3. Method of election

            1. 24. Method of election

      3. PART 3 Contested elections

         1. General provisions

            1. 25. Poll to be taken by ballot

            2. 26. The ballot papers

            3. 27. Corresponding number list

            4. 28. The official mark

            5. 29. Prohibition of disclosure of vote

            6. 30. Use of schools and public rooms

         2. Action to be taken before the poll

            1. 31. Notice of poll

            2. 32. Postal ballot papers

            3. 33. Return of postal ballot papers

            4. 34. Provision of polling stations

            5. 35. Appointment of presiding officers and clerks

            6. 36. Issue of official poll cards

            7. 37. Equipment of polling station

            8. 38. Appointment of polling and counting agents

            9. 39. Polling and counting agents: supplemental provision

            10. 40. Notification of requirement of secrecy

         3. The poll

            1. 41. Admission to polling station

            2. 42. Keeping of order in the polling station

            3. 43. Sealing of the ballot boxes

            4. 44. Questions to be put to voters

            5. 45. Challenge of voter

            6. 46. Voting procedure

            7. 47. Voters with a disability or unable to read: marking of votes by presiding officer

            8. 48. Voters with a disability or unable to read: assistance of companions

            9. 49. Voting with the assistance of a companion: supplemental provision

            10. 50. Tendered ballot papers: circumstances where available

            11. 51. Tendered ballot papers: duties of presiding officer

            12. 52. Spoilt ballot papers

            13. 53. Correction of errors on the day of poll

            14. 54. Adjournment of poll in case of riot

            15. 55. Procedure on close of poll

         4. Counting of Votes

            1. 56. Arrangements for the counting of votes

            2. 57. Attendance at the counting of votes

            3. 58. The count: steps

            4. 59. The count: general

            5. 60. The count: rejected ballot papers

            6. 61. Re-count

            7. 62. Decision on ballot papers

      4. PART 4 Final proceedings in contested and uncontested elections

         1. 63. Ascertainment of results at a contested election

         2. 64. Declaration of result

         3. 65. Return or forfeiture of deposit

      5. PART 5 Disposal of documents

         1. 66. Sealing up of ballot papers at contested elections

         2. 67. Delivery of documents to registration officer at contested elections

         3. 68. Production etc. of documents

         4. 69. Orders for the production of documents: supplemental provisions

         5. 70. Retention and destruction of documents forwarded to relevant registration officer

         6. 71. Destruction of home address forms by returning officer

      6. PART 6 Death of candidate

         1. 72. Death of candidate

         2. 73. Abandoned poll

      7. PART 7 Miscellaneous

         1. 74. Return of Senedd members and record of returns etc.

         2. 75. Vacancies

         3. 76. Registered political parties

         4. 77. Party’s registered nominating officer: discharge of functions

   6. SCHEDULE 6

      Control of donations to candidates

      1. PART 1 General

         1. 1. Interpretation

         2. 2. Donations: general rules

         3. 3. Sponsorship

         4. 4. Payments etc. not to be regarded as donations

         5. 5. Value of donations

      2. PART 2 Controls on donations

         1. 6. Prohibition on accepting donations from impermissible donors

         2. 7. Acceptance or return of donations

         3. 8. Transfer of donations received by candidate to election agent

         4. 9. Evasion of restrictions on donations

      3. PART 3 Reporting of donations

         1. 10. Statement of relevant donations

         2. 11. Donations from permissible donors

         3. 12. Donations from impermissible donors

   7. SCHEDULE 7

      Election expenses

      1. PART 1 List of matters

         1. 1. Advertising of any nature, whatever the medium used, including expenses...

         2. 2. Unsolicited material addressed to electors, whether addressed to them by...

         3. 3. Transport, by any means, of persons to any place, including...

         4. 4. Public meetings, of any kind, including expenses in respect of...

         5. 5. The services of an election agent or any other person...

         6. 6. Accommodation and administrative costs.

      2. PART 2 General exclusions

         1. 7. The payment of any deposit required by rule 11 of...

         2. 8. The publication of any matter, other than an advertisement, relating...

         3. 9. The provision of any facilities provided in pursuance of any...

         4. 10. The provision by an individual of their own services which...

         5. 11. Accommodation which is the candidate’s sole or main residence.

         6. 12. The provision by any other individual of accommodation which is...

         7. 13. Transport by a means of transport which was acquired by...

         8. 14. Transport provided free of charge by any other individual if...

         9. 15. Computing or printing equipment which was acquired by the candidate...

         10. 16. The provision by any other individual of computing or printing...

         11. 17. (1) Any matter that is reasonably attributable to the candidate’s...

         12. 18. Expenses incurred in respect of, or in consequence of, the...

         13. 19. The protection of persons or property, to the extent that...

         14. 19A. A matter in respect of which expenses are paid or...

      3. PART 3 Supplemental

         1. 20. Guidance by the Electoral Commission

   8. SCHEDULE 8

      Use of rooms in school premises or meeting rooms for Senedd election meetings

      1. 1. Use of rooms in school premises

      2. 2. List of rooms in school premises

      3. 3. List of meeting rooms

      4. 4. Lists to be kept by the registration officer

      5. 5. Inspection of lists

   9. SCHEDULE 9

      Modification of Election Petition Rules 1960

      1. 1. Senedd election petition: modification of the Election Petition Rules 1960

      2. 2. Modification of rule 2(2) (definitions)

      3. 3. Modification of rule 2(3) (prescribed officer)

      4. 4. Modification of rule 4(1) (form of petition)

      5. 5. Modification of rule 9(3) (display etc. of notice of time and place of trial)

      6. 6. Modification of rule 10(1) (identifying votes at issue)

      7. 7. Modification of the Schedule (election petition)

      8. 8. Modifications of references to a section of the Representation of the People Act 1983

   10. SCHEDULE 10

       Appendix of forms

   11. SCHEDULE 11

       Consequential amendments

       1. 1. The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020

       2. 2. The Elections Act 2022

       3. 3. The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

       4. 4. The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012

       5. 5. The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Functions of Returning Officers) Regulations 2012

   12. SCHEDULE 12

       Revocations

       1. 1. The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) Order...

       2. 2. The Representation of the People (National Assembly for Wales) (Access...

       3. 3. The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Amendment)...

       4. 4. The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Fresh...

       5. 5. The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Amendment)...

       6. 6. The National Assembly for Wales (Representation of the People) (Amendment)...

       7. 7. The National Assembly for Wales (Returning Officers’ Charges) (Amendment) Order...

       8. 8. The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2020....

       9. 9. The Candidate Election Expenses (Senedd Elections) Code of Practice 2021...

       10. 10. The Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2021.

       11. 11. The Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Accounts) Regulations 2021.

       12. 12. The Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) (Amendment) Order 2021....

9. Explanatory Note