Changes to Senedd election laws ahead of 2026 vote
Voters, candidates and campaigners heading into the 2026 Senedd election will do so under a reworked set of rules aimed at improving transparency, fairness and safety.
The updated framework follows the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 and a new Conduct Order introduced in 2025, which modernises and simplifies the legislation governing how elections are run in Wales.
A fully bilingual Conduct Order
For the first time, all election rules, forms and guidance have been published in both English and Welsh, with gender-neutral language throughout. The 2025 Conduct Order replaces the previous 2007 version and aligns with recent electoral reforms passed by the Senedd.
Stronger offences against undue influence
The long-standing offence of undue influence, attempting to pressure someone into voting a certain way, has been rewritten to make it clearer and easier to enforce. The new version covers threats to a person’s reputation as well as physical harm and clarifies that intent alone can be enough to constitute an offence, even if the attempt fails.
Those found guilty face up to a year in prison or a fine, and can be disqualified from voting or standing for election for five years.
Tackling intimidation of candidates
A new disqualification order can now be issued by the courts for crimes involving intimidation or hostility towards candidates, campaigners or elected representatives. Anyone given such an order will be banned from standing for or holding elected office for five years.
Digital campaigning rules
All digital election materials, including social media posts, videos and online adverts, must now include a “digital imprint”, identifying the promoter and the person or organisation on whose behalf the material is published.
This requirement, mirroring the rules for printed campaign leaflets, applies to all elections in the UK, including the Senedd. The Electoral Commission issued statutory guidance on digital imprints in November 2023.
Party membership declarations
Candidates must now declare if they have been a member of any political party in the 12 months before the election notice is issued.
For party list candidates, the declaration only applies if they were a member of a different party.
Failing to make a correct declaration is classed as a corrupt practice.
New campaign spending limits
The 2026 election will introduce a new electoral system, meaning campaign spending limits and reporting rules have been adjusted.
The regulated period — when expenses must be reported — will now be the same for political parties and independent candidates, beginning four months before polling day (7 January 2026).
Spending limits for political parties depend on how many constituencies they contest:
£52,500 for one candidate
Rising to £70,000 for six or more candidates
Independent candidates will have a limit of £52,500.
Costs related to safety and security are excluded from the limit, following recommendations from the Jo Cox Civility Commission.
Election
The next Senedd election is scheduled for Thursday 7 May 2026. Voters across Wales will elect 96 Members of the Senedd, an increase from the current 60.
It will be the first election to use Wales’ new voting system, which replaces individual constituencies with sixteen larger regions, each electing multiple members through a party list system.
The 2026 vote will also mark the start of a four-year electoral cycle, reducing the term length from five years.
More information
The Electoral Commission has published detailed guidance for:
Candidates and agents at Senedd elections
Political parties on campaign spending
Non-party campaigners
Electoral administrators
Full details can be found at www.electoralcommission.org.uk
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