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

Searching for a NEET solution

By Vijay K Luthra | 06 August 2026

With NEET numbers at their highest since 2013, Patrick Diamond and Vijay K Luthra argue the answer lies not in Whitehall, nor even in combined authorities, b...

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

No10 North: Whitehall reimagined

By Kate Josephs | 06 August 2026

As Andy Burnham launches No10 North to boost growth and devolution, former senior civil servant turned council chief executive Kate Josephs, suggests the re...

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

The severed links in health and care integration

By Martin Ford | 06 August 2026

Despite recognition of the benefits of closer integration between health and social care, recent months have seen a flurry of breakups in partnerships betwee...

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Embedding the conditions for successful care collaboration

By Aidan Rave | 06 August 2026

Health and care integration hasn’t failed, we just don’t yet take it seriously enough, argues Aidan Rave.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames