Welsh Senedd Election - PR in action. This will be interesting!

What type of PR is it please?

It’s D’Hondt, this is the first time it will be used.
senedd.wales/senedd-now/senedd-blog/senedd-election-2026-what-is-the-d-hondt-formula-and-how-does-it-work/

Thanks for the link.
I think they've probably chosen this "closed link"over (say) the "single transferable vote" for ease of administration and to make sure they have the diversity they (probably) want.

It will be interesting to see how it goes.
I wonder if the electorate will feel slightly more "removed" from politics?

Just been looking at this again - wasn't the earlier method based on D’Hondt too?

It was a mixture of D’Hondt and FPTP previously. Here is the explanation from the government.

‘In elections for the Senedd, using the additional member system, each voter has two votes. The first vote is for a member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote is for a regional closed party list of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the D'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation.’

NotSpaghetti

Thanks for the link.
I think they've probably chosen this "closed link"over (say) the "single transferable vote" for ease of administration and to make sure they have the diversity they (probably) want.

It will be interesting to see how it goes.
I wonder if the electorate will feel slightly more "removed" from politics?

I think this method of seat allocation is building on the previous regional voting system. The regions have been changed somewhat, so that there is a broadly equal number of voters per region. That also changes the voter profiles.

I don’t think it is possible to say that it is an unfair system in terms of views being represented in Senedd across the political spectrum, but I completely agree that it removes the locality perspective, which I am personally concerned about. I have always had reservations about PR for that reason.

Well thanks for yelling us what they were doing.
I do think it's probably better than "first past the post".

It seems to be a very complicated system and ends up with a result which voters might not expect or like.

My first reaction to the polls was unprintable.

I don't think it's complicated you are voting for a party.

Yes, it’s actually simpler to vote than before, because you will only have one vote for your party of choice, instead of one for your constituency MS and one for the regional seat. You have no say regarding an individual though, as the parties have prioritised their lists of preferred candidates.

Unlike a UK General Election, I might want to vote for a candidate because I know that person would be the best Member for the area even if their party will never form a majority. I don't mind that because I might dislike the party leader. Or perhaps to try stop Reform or Plaid having a majority.

I've never not voted before except once when I deliberately spoilt the ballot paper.

I agree, it’s a significant issue not being able to vote for a candidate you know, and think will do a good job.

I did that in the last local elections, voted for the candidate whom we know is pro-active but differently in the GE.

The shift to full PR really changes the math for the smaller parties. Even if Reform or Plaid poll high, the coalition building is where the real drama happens. It is going to be a long night waiting for those final seat counts.

Spoiling your vote is 'abstaining' and that is an acknowledged practice.

Well, I'm even more confused reading more about it!

I didn't vote at the last local elections ( for the first time ever), what has happened since then has confirmed to me that that was the right decision for me. I do think not voting is actually part of the democratic process.
I have always had some concerns about PR. I feel as though the 'push' for PR has faded in the last couple of years, and am a little unclear why that might be.

Allira

I did that in the last local elections, voted for the candidate whom we know is pro-active but differently in the GE.

I regularly vote for a different party member in locals, pretty much the person I truly believe will do their very best for the ward and local community.

I don’t buy the don’t vote at all option, all it says to me is that people can’t be bothered to have their say. I do think spoiling your vote is a legitimate way of protesting though. I wonder if the PR system will encourage the previous can’t be bothered group, because if they support any party or an independent there is a chance that the cumulative vote for them will result in a seat in the Senedd.

I might write across it that I don't like the voting system.

I am very politically engaged on all sorts of issues, I am the opposite of 'not bothered' but I couldn't vote for any of the candidates ( it was 'only' local elections I have no idea how I will feel for the next general election). I don't really see how spoiling my ballot is particularly different to not voting, both forms of 'protest' are measurable in some way.

I think it is very different Galaxy, because you will be banded in with the can’t be bothered by anybody looking at the percentage turnout. If you spoil your paper you care enough to turn up and say nobody is for you, and your vote is counted. Each to their own, but we fought hard for the vote for everybody, and I could never bring myself not to vote.

Welsh clowns will go for Plaid and then spend years complaining how badly run their country is.