Information for candidates and agents: Senedd Elections 7 Mai 2026
The next Senedd Elections will take place o 7 May 2026.
More information about the election, and information for voters
Briefing sessions for candidates
The Returning Officer, Dafydd Gibbard will be holding briefing sessions prior to the nomination period and following the close of nominations:
- Pre-Nomination period: The Returning Officer will provide important information regarding the nomination process, including deposit payments, campaigning as well as information regarding election spending and donations.
Date: 23/03/2026 4.30pm
To register, e-mail: etholiad@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
- Post-Nomination period: The Returning Officer will provide information regarding the postal vote process and timetable, polling day and the counting of votes.
Date: To be confirmed
Guidance and resources for candidates and their agents
The Electoral Commission has useful information if are thinking of standing in the election, including eligibility to stand for election.
Disabled candidates
Gall ymgeiswyr anabl ar gyfer y Senedd neu Lywodraeth Leol wneud cais am gyllid o dan y Gronfa Mynediad i Swyddi Etholedig, sy'n cael ei gweithredu gan Anabledd Cymru.
Nominations
Nominations will be accepted from 24 March 2026 to 4.00pm, 9 April 2026 inclusive (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays).
Nomination forms and information relating to the nomination process are available on the Electoral Commission website:
Please note: There will be differences in the nominations forms if you are a party list candidate or an individual candidate. More information.
Informal checks of Nomination Papers
We will be offering candidates informal checks of your nomination papers before you officially submit them.
You can e-mail your draft nomination papers to: enwebiadau@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Submitting your Nomination Papers
You can submit your nomination forms in-person or electronically:
- In-person: Appointments can be made between 9am and 5pm to submit the nomination papers. Appointments can be made by phoning 01766771000 or by e-mailing etholiad@gwynedd.llyw.cyrmu
- Electronically: Nomination papers can be are submitted electronically by e-mail to enwebiadau@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Your e-mail must arrive no later than 4.00pm on 9 April 2026.
- The time of receipt will be determined by the time the email is recorded on the Returning Officer's computer system at for the above email address.
- Your nomination paper must be submitted as an attachment Pdf, Word or Jpeg.
- You will receive an automated reply when your nomination has been delivered.
- The Returning Officer will send a sperate notice to inform candidates of his decision, as to whether or not their nomination is valid.
Deposit payments
Deposits can be deposited with the RO by 4.00pm on Thursday, 9 April 2026, by direct bank transfer, banker’s draft (banks operating in the UK only) or by cash (British pounds only). The required deposit payments are as follows:
- Individual candidate: Deposit sum of £500.00;
- Party list candidates: Deposit sum of £500.00 for the first party list candidate; and the sum of £200.00 for each of the next five candidates appearing on the registered party list.
Your nomination papers will not be accepted by the RO unless the correct amount has been deposited.
Forfeit of deposit
- An individual candidate’s deposit will be forfeited if, after the counting of the votes, they have polled less than 5% of the total number of votes in the constituency
- A registered political party’s deposit will be forfeited if, after the counting of the votes, they have polled less than 5% of the total number of votes in the constituency.
Code of Conduct for Campaigners
Campaigners are an essential element of a healthy democracy, and their right to put their arguments to voters should be supported and protected. It is equally important, however, to ensure that the activities of campaigners do not bring into question the integrity of the electoral process.
Key dates
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Event
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Working days before poll (deadline if not midnight)
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Date (deadline if not midnight)
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Publication of notice of election
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Not later than 25 days
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Wednesday, 25 March
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Delivery of nomination papers
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On any day after the publication of the notice of election until 4pm 19 days before polling day
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From 25 March until 4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Deadline for delivery of nomination papers
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19 days (4pm)
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4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Making objections to nomination papers
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On 19 days before the poll (5 pm), subject to the following:
Before 12 noon objections can be made to all nominations delivered up to and including 4pm, 20 days before the poll
Between 12 noon and 5pm objections can only be made to nominations delivered after 4pm, 20 days before the poll
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Before12 noon on Thursday 9 April objections can be made to all nominations delivered up to and including 4pm on Wednesday 8 April.
Between 12 noon and 5pm on Thursday 9 April objections can only be made to nominations delivered after 4pm on Wednesday 8 April
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Deadline for withdrawals
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19 days (4pm)
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4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Publication of first interim election notice of alteration
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19 days
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Thursday 9 April
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Deadline for the notification of appointment of election agent
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Not later than 18 days (4pm)
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Not later than 4pm on Friday 10 April
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Publication of statement of persons nominated, including notice of poll and situation of polling stations
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Not later than 18 days (4pm)
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Not later than 4pm on Friday 10 April
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Deadline for receiving applications for registration
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12 days
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Monday 20 April
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Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes
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11 days (5pm)
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5pm on Tuesday 21 April
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Publication of second interim election notice of alteration
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Between 18 days and 6 days
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Wednesday, 22 April
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Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies)
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6 days (5pm)
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5pm on Tuesday 28 April
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Publication of final election notice of alteration
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5 days
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Wednesday 29 April
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Deadline for notification of appointment of polling agents and counting agents.
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5 days
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Wednesday 29 April
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First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes
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4 days
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Thursday 30 April
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Deadline for appointing sub-agents
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2 days
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Tuesday 5 May
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Polling day
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0 (7am to 10pm)
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7am to 10pm on Thursday 7 May
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Last time that electors can apply for a replacement for spoilt or lost postal votes
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0 (5pm)
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5pm on Thursday 7 May
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Deadline for emergency proxy applications
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0 (5pm)
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5pm on Thursday 7 May
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Last time to alter the register due to clerical error or court appeal
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0 (9pm)
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9pm on Thursday 7 May
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Verification and Count
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9am on Friday, 8 May
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Contact is
If you require any further information, please contact the Returning Officer: