Title

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Wales to automatically register voters

The Welsh Government is to establish automatic voter registration for local government and Senedd elections.

The Welsh Government is to establish automatic voter registration for local government and Senedd elections. 

Under the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill - introduced today - councils would be required to add people to the local government register without the need for an application.

Local authorities will be invited to take part in trials focusing on how best to collect data to support automatic registration.

The Government said its ambition was for the changes to be in place for the next major devolved and local elections in 2026 and 2027.

Counsel general and minister for the constitution Mick Antoniw said: ‘Ultimately, this is about making it as easy as possible for people to vote and participate in democracy.

‘Our actions to remove barriers are in direct contrast with the UK Government, which has denied some voters their democratic right by requiring photo ID in recent English local elections.'

Director of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru campaign group, Jess Blair, said: ‘It is welcome that ministers are looking at how to make voting easier for people, removing barriers that we know many people face.'

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Working together in Wales

By Dan Peters | 21 September 2026

As shellshocked English council leaders bemoan the loss of trust in government over the delay to reorganisation, the picture in Wales couldn’t be more differ...

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

What it will really take to Rewire the State

By Dawn Plimmer | 21 September 2026

Three things are needed now for public service reform at scale, say Sarah Gillinson and Dawn Plimmer.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

LGR pause and review: what councils need to know

By Christopher Kerr | 18 September 2026

Christopher Kerr looks at the immediate issues and future concerns councils need to address following the pause in local government reorganisation.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Madchesterism: Putting music at the heart of devolution

By Tom Kiehl | 17 September 2026

New research makes clear the next phase of devolution is an opportunity to treat music as part of the economic, social and physical part of local communities...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames

-->