Returning Officers’ Charges Order and Accounts Order 2026: integrated impact assessment

Article 23 of the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 (‘the Conduct Order’) sets out that Returning Officers (ROs) are entitled to recover their charges in respect of expenses incurred and, on behalf of electoral administrators, charges in respect of services rendered. In both cases the charges must be incurred/rendered for, or in connection with, a Senedd election, where such charges were necessarily incurred for the efficient and effective conduct of the election.

Under article 23(4)(a)-(c) of the Conduct Order the Welsh Ministers must, by order: 

1. specify the maximum amount that is recoverable for the charges in respect of services/expenses;
2. provide a method of calculating the maximum amount that those charges may not exceed; and 
3. specify, or provide a method for calculating, the maximum amounts recoverable for services or expenses of particular types

This order making power is exercisable by statutory instrument.

The Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2026 (‘the Charges Order’) will provide for payments for services and expenses of ROs and electoral administrators in connection with the conduct of the Senedd elections which are due to be held on 7 May 2026.

The Charges Order specifies the maximum amounts recoverable by ROs for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd election and the overall maximum amount recoverable by ROs for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, an uncontested Senedd election.

The Charges Order will also apply to any subsequent Senedd by-elections which take place before the next full Senedd election is held, unless another order is made by the Welsh Ministers specifically relating to such a by-election.   

In developing the Charges Order, Welsh Government has collaborated with UK Government, ROs in Wales, and other electoral stakeholders such as the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA). 

The funding for Senedd elections is met from the Welsh Consolidated Fund. 

Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 

There is clear alignment between the Charges Order, and the five ways of working as set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 (“the Future Generations Act”). The Five Ways of Working have been considered throughout the development of this proposal and are discussed below.

Ways of working: long term 

By making the Charges Order, this ensures that election legislation is as up to date as possible and the maximum recoverable amounts made available to ROs are based on the most recent available data and take into account inflation. This ensures that ROs and local authorities are adequately reimbursed for the costs of running the Senedd election. 

Ways of working: prevention 

By making the Charges Order, and ensuring ROs and local authorities are adequately reimbursed for the costs of running the Senedd election, this will help ensure the resilience of their delivery in the future. 

Ways of working: integration 

The Charges Order is part of wider elections legislation framework that will help with the delivery of the Senedd elections.  

Ways of working: collaboration 

We have worked closely across Welsh Government with policy officials to ensure that the Charges Order contains the most recent available data, and takes into account inflation. We have also worked with ROs and our electoral stakeholders to seek their views.  

Ways of working: involvement 

ROs were consulted on the policy and the tables setting out the recoverable amounts for each constituency contained in the Charges Order. 7 responses were received from ROs and their administrators. Data was missing in relation to one constituency, for which the amounts have been revised. Aside from that, the majority of the responses were satisfied that the amounts were sufficient. A new guidance note and claim form, to accompany the Charges Order, have been produced following the consultation to provide further clarity for ROs.

Proposal impact 

The Charges Order is in line with the principles of electoral reform, outlined below, which are used to benchmark the agenda of electoral reform and Welsh Government’s approach to supporting democratic engagement and participation. 

Principles of electoral reform: 

• Equity: every person that wishes to participate in democracy must be enabled to do so, and to do so in a safe and respectful environment, so that our institutions are diverse and representative of the people they serve.
• Accessibility: changes to electoral systems and electoral law should be based on the principle of making voting and participation in democracy as accessible and convenient as possible, building capacity to allow that to happen and encouraging creativity at every level of democracy.
• Participation: we want as many people as possible to exercise their democratic right to vote. It is the role of everyone involved in electoral administration to maximise the number of people turning out at elections.
• Improving citizen experience: Citizens should be provided with the tools to shape their communities and country through engagement, representation and participation.
• Simplicity: the administrative electoral system and electoral law in Wales must be modernised to make registering to vote, voting and participating more straightforward for citizens.
• Integrity: integrity and transparency must underpin all electoral reforms in Wales. We must have a system that citizens trust and a sharing of information from legitimate sources.

Proposal costs and savings 

Estimated costs and savings are set out in in the draft Regulatory Impact Assessment (“RIA”) published in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Charges Order alongside this IIA. 

Proposal mechanism 

Subordinate legislation is necessary to deliver the proposal. 

How have people most likely to be affected by the proposal been involved in developing it?

The Charges Order is intended for use by electoral practitioners. 

ROs were consulted on the policy and the tables setting out the recoverable amounts for each constituency contained in the Charges Order. 7 responses were received from ROs and their administrators. Data was missing in relation to one constituency, for which the amounts have been revised. Aside from that, the majority of the responses were satisfied that the amounts were sufficient. A new Guidance Note and claim form, to accompany the Charges Order, have been produced following the consultation to provide further clarity for ROs.

What are the most significant impacts, positive and negative?

The Charges Order will enable ROs to proceed with their preparations for holding the Senedd election in May 2026, and will ensure that all legitimate costs of that election are reimbursed to ROs and local authorities. 

In light of the impacts identified, how will the proposal: 

• maximise contribution to our well-being objectives and the seven well-being goals;  and/or,

• avoid, reduce or mitigate any negative impacts?

The purpose of the Charges Order is to provide for payments for services and expenses of ROs and electoral administrators in connection with the conduct of the Senedd election which is due to be held on 7 May 2026.

Well-being goals

The Charges Order will not directly impact well-being goals.  

Well-being objectives

The Welsh Government has 10 well-being objectives used to maximise contribution to the well-being goals. 

The 10 well-being objectives are as follows: 

1. Provide effective, high quality and sustainable healthcare: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
2. Continue our long-term programme of education reform, and ensure educational inequalities narrow and standards rise: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
3. Protect, re-build and develop our services for vulnerable people: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
4. Celebrate diversity and move to eliminate inequality in all of its forms: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
5. Build an economy based on the principles of fair work, sustainability and the industries and services of the future: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
6. Push towards a million Welsh speakers, and enable our tourism, sports and arts industries to thrive: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
7. Build a stronger, greener economy as we make maximum progress towards decarbonisation: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
8. Make our cities, towns and villages even better places in which to live and work: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
9. Embed our response to the climate and nature emergency in everything we do: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 
10. Lead Wales in a national civic conversation about our constitutional future, and give our country the strongest possible presence on the world stage: the Charges Order will not directly impact this objective. 

How will the impact of the proposal be monitored and evaluated as it progresses and when it concludes? 

The impact of the Charges Order will be monitored and evaluated through engagement with stakeholders.