What is the Welsh Government doing to support local authorities exploring the feasibility of changing their voting system ahead of the 2027 local elections?
Following the passing of the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, local authorities can decide to adopt the Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system for their elections, in place of the First Past the Post system. Any Council looking to change its voting system must consult locally and pass a resolution by two-thirds of all its members before 15 November 2024, if it wishes to introduce STV for the 2027 ordinary local elections.
We have written to all Returning Officers and Heads of Electoral Services in Wales with a reminder of the provisions in the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021, in relation to changing voting systems. The potential for changing voting systems has been discussed in officials’ regular engagement with those officers and with key partners like the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators.
In the coming months, we will be publishing draft detailed rules for how a local election would be run under STV. We will engage with stakeholders to ensure the rules are fit for purpose. It will be for each local authority to determine if it is feasible to change the voting system in its area, but we will work closely with local authority partners and other stakeholders to explore if any further guidance and support is needed.