↓ How is the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) changing in 2026?
↓ When will the 2026 Senedd election be held?
↓ How many Senedd Members will there be?
↓ Why does the Senedd need more Members?
↓ Will my constituency be changing?
↓ How many Members will be elected in my constituency?
↓ Will the voting system be different at the next Senedd election?
↓ How will I know who I’m voting for?
↓ Can I still vote for an independent candidate?
↓ When will the changes to the Senedd happen?
↓ Will Senedd elections happen more often?
↓ How have people in Wales been consulted about the changes?
↓ How can I give you my views?
↓ How much will the changes cost?
↓ Who voted to make these changes?
↓ Will the design of the Senedd need to alter to accommodate additional Members?
↓ Where will the Senedd sit while renovations are ongoing?
↓ Will there be gender quotas at the 2026 election?
↓ Will there be a system for recalling Senedd Members?
Frequently asked questions
How is the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) changing in 2026?
Starting with the 2026 election, the Senedd is changing. These changes include:
- 96 Members: From 2026, the Senedd will have 96 Members.
- A new voting system: Members of the Senedd will be elected through a closed proportional list system, where voters choose either a political party or an independent candidate. The full list of candidates will appear on the ballot paper, so you can still see who you are voting for.
- New constituencies: Wales will have 16 new constituencies for the next Senedd election. These will be created by pairing the 32 UK Parliament constituencies for Wales. Each new constituency will elect six Members. The new constituencies will be published in spring 2025.
- New rules: Anyone standing for election in Wales must live in Wales.
- More frequent elections: Senedd elections will take place every four years, starting from 2026.
What is Senedd reform?
“Senedd reform” refers to changes being made to the Senedd to prepare it for the future.
When will the 2026 Senedd election be held?
The next Senedd election will be held on or before 7 May 2026.
How many Senedd Members will there be?
At the 2026 Senedd election 96 Members will be elected, compared to 60 at previous elections.
Why does the Senedd need more Members?
The Senedd has had the same number of Members for 25 years, despite an increase in its powers.
The Senedd now possesses full law-making powers and the ability to raise taxes in Wales, which it could not do when it was created in 1999.
More Members will give the Senedd greater ability to look at and challenge the Welsh Government’s plans and spending on major issues like the health service, education and transport, giving your community a stronger voice when these decisions are made.
The changes will strengthen and prepare the Senedd for the future.
The Senedd is the smallest parliament in the UK and one of the smallest in Europe. Increasing the number of Members to 96 will bring it more in line with other countries of a similar size to Wales, like Scotland which has 129 Members and Northern Ireland which has 90.
There has been a lot of research into whether the Senedd has enough Members.
In 2011, there was a public vote (referendum) on whether the then Assembly should have more law-making powers. A total of 63.5% of voters were in favour of the change.
In 2015, the Assembly Commission published a report looking at the future of the National Assembly for Wales. It unanimously called for more Members, stating the Assembly was “underpowered and overstretched”.
Previous research conducted by the Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform, the Committee on Senedd Electoral Reform and the Special Purpose Committee on Senedd Reform, all recognised the need for change and growth.
Will my constituency be changing?
Yes. Wales will have 16 new constituencies for the next Senedd election. These will be created by pairing the 32 UK Parliament constituencies for Wales.
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru are responsible for deciding the new constituency areas. You can see all the proposals on its website.
How many Members will be elected in my constituency?
Six Members will be elected in each of the new constituencies. This means that wherever you live in Wales, six Members will represent you and your community in the Senedd. You can contact any or all of them about issues in your local area.
Will the voting system be different at the next Senedd election?
Yes. At the 2026 Senedd election, anyone over the age of 16 will now have one vote to choose representatives for their community in the Senedd.
Members of the Senedd will be elected through a closed proportional list system, where voters choose either a political party 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 or independent candidate wins enough votes in your area, they will win one or more seats in the Senedd. Seats will be allocated based on the percentage of votes each party or independent candidate receives, using a method called the D’Hondt formula.
How will I know who I’m voting for?
Your ballot paper will list the names of the candidates standing for each political party, alongside any independent candidates. You will vote for a party or an independent candidate.
Can I still vote for an independent candidate?
Yes. Independent candidates standing for election in your constituency will be listed on your ballot paper.
When will the changes to the Senedd happen?
The new voting system and constituency boundaries will begin at the 2026 Senedd election, when 96 Members will be elected.
Will Senedd elections happen more often?
Yes. Senedd elections will take place every four years, starting from 2026.
How have people in Wales been consulted about the changes?
The changes to the Senedd have undergone multiple public consultations:
- In 2011, there was a public vote (referendum) on whether the then Assembly should have more law-making powers. A total of 63.5% of voters were in favour of the change.
- In 2018 by the Senedd Commission: Creating a Parliament for Wales: full consultation report.
- In 2023, by the Senedd’s Reform Bill Committee. You can read all the responses to the consultation and the Committee’s report on the Senedd website.
- In 2024, the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru ran a public consultation on the proposed constituency changes which closed in September. It will be holding another consultation in December 2024. You can view the proposals on its website.
For further information about the history of reforms to the Senedd, please see the Research Service article: Senedd reform - the story so far.
How can I give you my views?
You can contact any of your current Members of the Senedd about the changes.
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru will be running a second round of public consultation on the proposed constituency changes in December 2024. Visit its website to find out more.
How much will the changes cost?
This is the biggest change to the Senedd since it was established in 1999. The total costs of these changes are not yet known as they are dependent on things like how new Senedd Members will want the Senedd to operate after the 2026 election.
Throughout the process, the Senedd Commission aims to provide maximum benefits and value for money.
The Senedd Commission’s Draft Budget 2025-26 proposes a 16% increase in spending to support a 60% increase in Members.
These estimates will be kept under constant review, and cost savings will be made wherever possible.
Who voted to make these changes?
On 8 May 2024, a supermajority of Members was needed to vote in favour of the changes to the Senedd. Members voted 43 to 16 to pass the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill.
The Bill then received Royal Assent from the King, becoming an Act and law in Wales in June 2024.
Will the design of the Senedd need to alter to accommodate additional Members?
The Senedd’s debating chamber, the Siambr, will be altered to accommodate all 96 Members. Work will start in April 2025 and be completed in Spring 2026.
The original design of the Siambr, by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), allowed room for expansion if there was ever an increase in Members. Although this is still the case, work needs to be done to install things like desks and ICT equipment.
Where will the Senedd sit while renovations are ongoing?
Senedd Members will still attend Plenary while work to adapt the debating chamber is ongoing.
It is likely that Members will meet for Plenary in Siambr Hywel. This is the original debating chamber in Tŷ Hywel where plenary meetings were first held before the Senedd building was opened.
However, options are still being considered with Members and a final decision about this will be made in Spring 2025.
Will there be gender quotas at the 2026 election?
No. The Welsh Government withdrew the Senedd Cymru (Electoral Candidate Lists) Bill in September 2024 which would have introduced gender quotas at Senedd elections.
Instead, they will issue new guidance for political parties on diversity and inclusion, which will be available in time for candidate selection at the 2026 election.
Will there be a system for recalling Senedd Members?
Procedures to recall Members of the Senedd were not included in the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act which sets out the other changes to the Senedd.
However, the Senedd’s Standards of Conduct Committee is looking at ways to make Members more accountable, including a recall mechanism. Visit the Standards of Conduct Committee webpage for further information.
The Welsh Government has also made a commitment to work to see legislation introduced before the 2026 election to establish a system of recall for Senedd Members.
