SIXTEEN and seventeen year olds can now register to vote in this year’s Senedd election, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 6th May. This means you can now have your say on issues affecting Wales such as:
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- Education
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Environment
- Economy
- The Welsh Language
You can only vote from the age of 16 at the Senedd elections. The UK Parliamentary elections, local Council elections and the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are different, and you won’t be able to vote at these elections until you are 18. But by registering before then you can vote as soon as you are eligible.
What is the Senedd?
Senedd Cymru is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people. It makes laws for Wales, agrees Welsh taxes and holds the Welsh Government to account.
Why should I vote?
To make a change or influence your future you need to do your bit for democracy, and one way to do that is to vote in elections. By doing so, it means you can help decide who represents you and makes big decisions on your behalf. Politics and democracy influences everything around you, and right now more people can vote in Wales than ever before!
Handy tip: If you have an interest in politics, why not join the Carmarthenshire Youth Council?
A group of young people aged 11 – 25 years old from across Carmarthenshire who act as a voice for young people by representing the views and opinions of all young people in the county.
How will I know who to vote for?
When you vote in a Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament election, you have two votes. One to select your constituency (Carmarthenshire) member and the other to elect your regional (Mid and West Wales) member.
In the constituency ballot, you choose the candidate you want to represent you directly. In the regional ballot, you choose from a list of parties or candidates you want to represent your region.
Handy tip: Don’t be afraid to ask candidates questions in the lead up to an election. Choose the candidate you feel will best represent you. A list of candidates will be listed on our Senedd Cymru Elections page once their details become available.
How do I register to vote?
You can only vote at elections if your name appears in the Electoral Register, which is why you need to register first. You can do this on a mobile, tablet or laptop, and it only takes 5 minutes!
You can register to vote at any time, but the deadline to register for the Senedd Cymru 2021 election is Monday 19th April 2021. You must register before then in order to be able to vote. If you’re not sure if you are already registered to vote, complete our online form and we will check your details.
If you are over 16, you will need your National Insurance number to register. For those aged 14, you are still able to register even though you will not have been issued with a National Insurance number yet.
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