Policy and strategy

Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024

An overview of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024, it's passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.

Part of:
First published:
22 July 2026
Last updated:

Contents

Overview

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (‘the 2024 Act’) reforms and modernises the way Senedd elections and local elections are held in Wales, by implementing many of the proposals set out in the White Paper on Electoral Administration and Reform published in October 2022, in order to strengthen democratic accountability and control. 

The 2024 Act makes provision about:

  • electoral administration and registration
  • the piloting of changes to the electoral system
  • the system for monitoring and reviewing local government electoral arrangements
  • the disqualification of community councillors from membership of Senedd Cymru
  • the application of the corrupt practice of undue influence to Senedd Cymru elections and local government elections
  • the functions and constitution of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru 

The Explanatory Notes to the 2024 Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions:

Read the full 2024 Act:

Coming into force

Section 72 provides that the 2024 Act comes into force as follows:

  • Chapter 3 of Part 1, Part 2 of Schedule 1, sections 61 and 66 and Part 3 came into force on 10 September 2024, which is the day after the Act received Royal Assent
  • Chapter 1 of Part 2 and sections 25, 30, 62 and 63 come into force on 9 November 2024, which is two months after the day the 2024 Act received Royal Assent    
  • section 65 comes into force on 6 May 2027
  • subject to section 72(5), the other provisions of the 2024 Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers in an order made by statutory instrument

Read section 72:

The following Orders have been made:

and the Explanatory Memorandum for the 2026 Order:

Subordinate legislation made under the Act

Subordinate legislation made under the Act
TitleCitation number (Statutory Instruments only) Made dateComing into force dateSupporting documents
The Welsh Elections Information Platform (Amendments) Regulations 2026 on legislation.gov.uk2026 No. 919 January 202611 February 20262026 No. 9: Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Welsh Elections Financial Assistance Scheme (Disabled Candidates) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 897 (W. 157)16 July 202521 July 2025Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Welsh Elections Information Platform Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 331 (W. 66)12 March 202514 March 2025Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 286 (W. 58)6 March 20257 March 2025Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Representation of the People (Electoral Registration without Applications) (Pilot Scheme) (Wales) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 38 (W. 12)15 January 202517 January 2025Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

The Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Bill (‘the Bill’) was introduced into the Senedd on 2 October 2023 by Mick Antoniw MS, who was the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution at the time. It was passed by the Senedd on 9 July 2024 and received Royal Assent on 9 September 2024.

More information about the Act and the Bill’s passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.

The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government, as updated following Royal Assent:

First published

22 July 2026

Last updated

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