Daytime count confirmed for 2026 Senedd Election
Daytime count confirmed for 2026 Senedd Election
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Votes in the 2026 Senedd election will be counted during the daytime on Friday 8 May, following a formal direction issued by Wales’ Electoral Management Board (EMB).
The EMB has instructed Returning Officers across Wales to begin counting votes between 9am and 11am on the day after polling, which takes place on Thursday 7 May 2026.
Daytime counting has become standard practice in Wales in recent years. The approach was used for the 2021 Senedd election, as well as the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner and 2022 Local Government elections.
According to the EMB, the decision follows consultation with Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission, and aims to make the process more accessible and efficient.
It is hoped that holding the count the following day will give more people the chance to follow results as they are announced. Officials also say that daytime counting allows election staff to be well-rested and ensures all necessary resources are available to conduct a secure and accurate process.
The new direction also ensures consistency across Wales regarding when vote counting will take place. While all counts must start between 9am and 11am on Friday 8 May, the EMB has allowed some flexibility for Returning Officers who wish to verify ballot papers immediately after polls close at 10pm on Thursday 7 May.
Verification involves checking the number of ballot papers issued and returned to ensure they match, but does not include counting votes for any candidate or party. The EMB expects a small number of Returning Officers may choose to carry out verification overnight.
The Electoral Management Board, established in 2025 following the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act, is responsible for coordinating devolved elections in Wales. It has the authority to issue legally binding directions to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers on how elections are administered.
Other directions issued by the Board have covered practical matters such as the colour of ballot papers, the publication of election notices, and the management of postal votes.
Commenting on the announcement, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, said:
“Returning Officers and their teams are already working tirelessly to deliver a smooth and secure election on 7 May.
“A daytime count helps to make sure that more people are able to watch the all-important counting of the votes.
“The clarity given will also help Returning Officers to recruit and manage the workload of their election staff.
“The Electoral Management Board and the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is grateful to Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission for their constructive feedback as we’ve developed these directions.
“We want more people from across Wales to be able to engage with this important election, and that includes watching the results come through.”
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