HomePoliticsWho's running in the 2026 Senedd election?

Who’s running in the 2026 Senedd election?

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A large field of candidates is set to compete for positions in the 2026 Senedd election.

In total, 675 individuals have officially entered the race to fill 96 available seats.

The Senedd, referred to interchangeably as the Welsh Parliament, serves as Wales’ devolved legislative body.

The election will utilize a closed-list proportional representation method, with 16 constituencies each choosing six Members of the Senedd.

This fresh electoral approach aims to align seat allocation closely with each party’s vote share.

A recently established online platform, vote.wales, seeks to assist electors by providing comprehensive details about every candidate and the electoral process.

Shereen Williams, chief executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, stated: “We developed vote.wales to furnish voters with all necessary information ahead of the Senedd election scheduled for May 7.

With candidate confirmations now complete throughout Wales, residents can discover exactly which individuals are seeking their support through a straightforward postcode lookup.

We appreciate the diligent efforts of Returning Officers and electoral personnel across Wales who are working tirelessly to facilitate this election.

Their dedication enables citizens to visit vote.wales and view candidates contesting their specific constituency.

For any queries regarding this election, vote.wales serves as the primary resource.

Building voting confidence begins here.”

Electors will have the option to support either a political party or an individual candidate.

Political parties could put forward as many as eight candidates per constituency, with additional individuals also standing as independents.

Among the 675 candidates, 30 are contesting as independents.

Those wishing to participate must ensure their voter registration is completed by April 20.

Photo identification is not mandatory for casting a vote in Senedd elections.

Supplementary candidate details and campaign materials will be accessible on vote.wales beginning April 16, enabling voters to make well-informed decisions.

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