Electoral Reform Society Cymru

Whatever happens in May, the next Senedd election is set to be historic. For instance, recent polling has pointed to the chance that Labour might not be the largest party in the Senedd for the first time. But it’s not just who is sitting in the Siambr that could change. But it’s not just who is sitting in the Siambr that could change.

The way we vote for our Members of the Senedd (MSs) is also set to change with the new ‘closed proportional list’ system. Yet, many voters are still not fully aware of how the new system works.

There is a new way of voting at the Senedd election this May. How does it work? Whatever happens in May, the next Senedd election is set to be historic. For instance, recent polling has pointed to the chance that Labour might not be the largest party in the Senedd f

Find out what the ERS Cymru team have been doing this year in our Annual Review

2025 at the ERS: Our work in Scotland and Wales Each year we write an Annual Review which looks back at our achievements across the last 12 months, and explains how our team have campaigned towards securing our vision for a democracy

The Senedd election next year will be held under a system no one wanted – the closed list system. Closed lists will deliver a proportional result but will not deliver accountability. The Single Transferable Vote (STV) does both.

Working with Alun Davies MS and members of other political parties, ERS has developed a bill to make this vision a reality.

Closed Lists were a misstep, cross-party STV bill would put the Senedd back on track Wales stands at an important crossroads in its democratic journey. ERS Cymru has developed a proposal to change the way we elect members of the Senedd, replacing the planned closed-list

A donations cap would be a simple way to stop big donors from having an outsized influence on politics

Calls for £10,000 cap on donations after Vaughan Gething row Chris Haines – ICNN Senedd reporter Campaigners have called for a £10,000 cap on political donations following controversy over a £200,000 donation that led to the downfall of former first minister Vaughan Gething. Mr Gething, who broke no rules, was forced to stand down after accepting the dona...

After the election, MSs should back a change to a proportional system that allows voters to vote for candidates and not just political parties, such as the Single Transferable Vote.

Parties say they won't publish details of Senedd candidate selection votes Martin Shipton None of the main political parties contesting the Senedd election in 2026 have agreed to a suggestion from Nation.Cymru that they should publish the detailed voting figures in their internal candidate selection contests. We asked Welsh Labour, the Welsh Conservatives, Plaid Cymru, the...

The responsibility is now squarely on political parties to step up and ensure Wales doesn’t squander its world-leading legacy when it comes to gender balance in its parliament.

Why the next Senedd could be the least representative of women ever The Senedd hit the headlines back in 2003 when it became the first legislature in the world to reach 50:50 gender parity between men and women. It was a proud moment for our country and

Our director has written an op-ed for Nation.Cymru on why the next Senedd could be the least representative of women ever. https://nation.cymru/opinion/why-the-next-senedd-could-be-the-least-representative-of-women-ever/

Why the next Senedd could be the least representative of women ever Jessica Blair, Director of ERS Cymru The Senedd hit the headlines back in 2003 when it became the first legislature in the world to reach 50:50 gender parity between men and women. It was a proud moment for our country and showed Wales leading the way in ensuring democratic institutions truly repres...

We've warned that gender representation in the Senedd could go backwards at the next election, unless decisive action is taken to ensure diversity among candidates.

Warning issued as gender balance in next Senedd under threat POLITICAL parties in Wales have been warned that gender representation in the Senedd could go backwards at the next election, unless decisive action is taken to ensure diversity among candidates. New guidance published by the Welsh Government on Monday (Mar 31) encourages parties to improve represen...

Last weekend, Plaid Cymru members gathered in Llandudno for their Spring Conference. As part of the event, ERS Cymru Director, Jess Blair, hosted a conversation with Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun Ap Iorwerth MS, to discuss the state of democracy – both in Wales and globally.

In discussion with Plaid Cymru leader Rhun Ap Iorwerth MS: Threats, Challenges and Opportunities for Welsh Democracy Last weekend, Plaid Cymru members gathered in Llandudno for their Spring Conference as they begin to set their sights on the 2026 Senedd election. As part of the event, ERS Cymru Directo

The Welsh government has agreed to pass legislation to introduce a recall process as soon as possible, saying "public trust in politics is hard-won, but easily lost, and it's our duty to safeguard it".

Senedd reform: Voters to be able to expel misbehaving politicians Welsh ministers agree to pass legislation to introduce a Senedd recall process as soon as possible.

Nation.Cymru have covered our new report A System Out of Step on the 2024 General Election https://nation.cymru/news/this-years-general-election-was-the-most-disproportional-since-universal-suffrage-was-introduced/

This year's general election was the most disproportional since universal suffrage was introduced Martin Shipton The 2024 general election was the most disproportional in British electoral history – and also one of the most disproportional anywhere in the world – as voters displayed the highest volatility in a century. A new report on this year’s general election from the Electoral Reform ...

Our new report on the 2024 General Election, A System Out of Step, explores in depth the most disproportional election in British history, in terms of how we voted and what we got. Our research reveals the full, worrying picture from this election.

A System Out of Step – New report on the 2024 General Election Today we have published our in-depth report on the 2024 General Election, A System Out of Step.The General Election in 2024 was not only the most disproportional election in British ele