In May 2026, people of Wales will be invited to the polls to vote for who they would like to represent us in the Senedd, but there are big changes to the electoral system.
Residents of Splott and surrounding areas are invited to join an evening of discussion and learning as Splott Community Volunteers hosts a special event with members of the Senedd exploring the upcoming changes to democracy in Wales.
The free event takes place on Tuesday 28th October from 6pm-7:30pm at the STAR Centre, Splott Road (entry via the gates on Railway Street, opposite A1 Tyres) and will feature a presentation from Members of the the Senedd Engagement team.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the changes to Welsh democracy: including an expanded Senedd chamber, an increase in the number of Members, a new voting system, and reshaped constituencies, all due to be introduced ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.
The evening will include a presentation followed by a Q&A session, giving residents the chance to ask questions and better understand how the Senedd represents people living in Wales.
Lynne Thomas, CEO, said:
“This event is a chance for people in our community to learn about what’s changing in the Senedd, to ask questions, and have their say. We’re proud to host an open and welcoming conversation about how our country is governed, right here in the heart of Splott.”
Light refreshments will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Here’s a summary of the upcoming changes to the Senedd elections:
The number of Senedd Members (MSs) is increasing from 60 to 96, effective from the 2026 election. This change is part of a new electoral system where Wales will be divided into 16 constituencies, each electing six MSs, and will replace the current system of 40 constituency MSs and 20 regional MSs.
The new voting system is called a ‘closed proportional list system.’ This means the number of seats a party or independent candidate wins will more closely reflect the percentage of votes they get.
How it works:
- Wales will be divided into 16 areas for the 2026 election, called constituencies.
- Each constituency will have six seats in the Senedd, which means six Members will be elected in each area.
- Political parties will list up to eight candidates for each constituency.
- Independent candidates can also stand for election.
- You will vote for one party or one independent candidate.
- The seats are allocated based on the share of votes each party or independent candidate gets. For example, if a party wins three seats, the top three people on their list will be elected to those seats.
- 96 Members of the Senedd will be elected in total (instead of 60).
Difference between Senedd and Government.
The Senedd is not the Government.
The Senedd is made up of all of Senedd Members (government party plus all of the opposition members). In Westminster, the equivalent is Parliament.
Government is made up of people in the ruling party. If one party doesn’t have an overall majority (more than 50% of the seats), then they will try to form a coalition with another or other parties (a formal agreement between two or more parties who can agree on policies and programme).
If you would like to know more about the reasons for the changes and what the responsibilities of The Senedd are, then pop to the back of the STAR Centre tomorrow evening for a chat with the people in the know!