Will the Cabinet Minister ensure the counts for local elections next year are held in the evening of polling day after polls close?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning | Answered on 13/07/2026
No. The counting of votes must begin as soon as practicable after the close of polls. To determine when the counts will take place, Returning Officers must follow Electoral Commission guidance and any guidance or directions given by the Electoral Management Board for Wales. Returning Officers and the Electoral Management board are better positioned than national government to make decisions around the administration of elections.