Why the 2026 Senedd votes won’t be counted overnight
Votes cast in the 2026 Senedd election will be counted during the daytime on Friday, 8 May, rather than overnight, following a new direction issued by Wales’ Electoral Management Board.
Returning Officers across Wales have been instructed to begin counting between 9am and 11am on the day after polling, which takes place on Thursday, 7 May.
The board said daytime counts have become standard practice in Wales, following similar arrangements for the 2021 Senedd election, the 2022 Local Government elections, and the 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner contests.
A spokesperson said the approach would give more people the opportunity to follow the results as they are announced and ensure that election staff are well-rested.
The Electoral Management Board, established in 2025 under the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act, coordinates devolved elections in Wales and can issue legally binding directions to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers.
Its latest direction ensures consistency across Wales for when votes will be counted, while still allowing Returning Officers the flexibility to verify ballot papers immediately after polls close at 10pm on Thursday night if they wish.
Verification involves checking the number of ballot papers issued and received, but does not include counting votes for candidates or parties. A small number of Returning Officers are expected to complete this process overnight.
Explaining the decision, Shereen Williams MBE OStJ, Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru, said:
“Returning Officers and their teams are already working tirelessly to deliver a smooth and secure election on 7 May.
“A daytime count helps to make sure that more people are able to watch the all-important counting of the votes.
“The clarity given will also help Returning Officers to recruit and manage the workload of their election staff.
“The Electoral Management Board and the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru is grateful to Returning Officers and the Electoral Commission for their constructive feedback as we’ve developed these directions.
“We want more people from across Wales to be able to engage with this important election, and that includes watching the results come through.”
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