Senedd Candidates and Agents information
Briefing sessions
Rob Thomas, Returning Officer (RO) will be holding briefing sessions prior to the nomination period and following the close of nominations:
- Pre-Nomination period – the RO will provide important information regarding the nomination process, including deposit payments, campaigning as well as information regarding election spending and donations.
The briefing session will be held on Monday 23 March 2026 at 5pm.
If you wish to join the briefing, please email Rachel Starr, rmstarr@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk and a link will be sent.
- Post-Nomination period – the RO will provide information regarding the postal vote process and timetable, polling day and the counting of votes.
The briefing session will be held on Friday 24 April 2026 at 5pm.
Access to Elected Office Fund – disabled candidates
Disabled candidates for the Senedd or Local Government can now apply for funding under the Access to Elected Office Fund, operated by Disability Wales. The funding is to help disabled candidates with additional, unavoidable costs — such as accessible transport, specialist equipment, or personal support. The scheme includes:
- Help identifying necessary support.
- Assistance with completing applications.
- Fair assessment of requests to ensure equity.
- Provision of approved funding or services.
The fund provides financial support for disabled candidates with impairment-related costs, including funding for British Sign Language interpreters, personal assistants, accessible transport, and assistive technology. The fund is funded by Welsh Government and operated by Disability Wales, ensuring the scheme is administered independently with impartiality and confidentiality. The scheme will assist candidates throughout the election period—from nomination to the announcement of results.
Candidates can apply via Disability Wales or download the application form here.
Guidance and resources for candidates and their agents
The Electoral Commission has information that would be useful to you if are thinking of standing in the election, including eligibility to stand for election.
Nominations
Nomination forms and information relating to the nomination process are available on the Electoral Commission website.
Please note that there will be differences in the nominations forms if you are a party list candidate or an individual candidate. Please refer to the Electoral Commission website for the full list of requirements for the nomination process.
Nominations will be accepted from 10am on Friday 27 March 2026 to 4pm on Friday 9 April 2026 (excluding weekends and Bank Holidays).
Informal checks of Nomination Papers
We will be offering candidates informal checks of your nomination papers before you officially submit them.
You can e-mail your draft nomination papers to nominations@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk for comments.
Submitting your Nomination Papers
You can submit your nomination forms in-person or electronically:
- In-person – appointments can be made between the hours of 10am and 4pm to submit the nomination papers. Appointments can be made by phoning 01446 709304 or by e-mailing rmstarr@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk.
- Electronically –
- Nomination papers must be submitted by e-mail to nominations@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk;
- Nominations will not be accepted if submitted to an alternative e-mail address;
- The e-mail subject line should make it clear the registered party name or individual candidate’s name;
- On receipt of the papers, an acknowledgement e-mail will be sent. This will not provide confirmation that the nomination is valid;
- A further e-mail will be sent confirming the nomination is valid or whether there are any issues with the information provided;
- The appropriate deposit payments will need to have been made prior to confirmation that the nomination has been confirmed as valid;
- It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that the nomination papers are delivered and confirmed as valid, by no later than 4pm on Friday 9 April 2026.
Deposit payments
Deposits can be made with the RO by 4pm on Thursday, 9 April 2026, by direct bank transfer, banker’s draft (banks operating in the UK only) or by cash (British pounds only). The required deposit payments are as follows:
- Individual candidate – deposit sum of £500.00;
- Party list candidates – deposit sum of £500.00 for the first party list candidate; and the sum of £200.00 for each of the next five candidates appearing on the registered party list.
Your nomination papers will not be accepted by the RO unless the correct amount has been deposited.
Forfeit of deposit
- An individual candidate’s deposit will be forfeited if, after the counting of the votes, they have polled less than 5% of the total number of votes in the constituency
- A registered political party’s deposit will be forfeited if, after the counting of the votes, they have polled less than 5% of the total number of votes in the constituency.
Code of Conduct for Campaigners
Campaigners are an essential element of a healthy democracy, and their right to put their arguments to voters should be supported and protected. It is equally important, however, to ensure that the activities of campaigners do not bring into question the integrity of the electoral process.
Further information is available on the Electoral Commission website.
Key dates
Key Dates
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Event
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Working days before poll (deadline if not midnight)
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Date (deadline if not midnight)
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Publication of notice of election
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Not later than 25 days
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Friday 27 March
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Delivery of nomination papers
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On any day after the publication of the notice of election until 4pm 19 days before polling day
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From 10am on 27 March until 4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Deadline for delivery of nomination papers
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19 days (4pm)
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4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Making objections to nomination papers
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On 19 days before the poll (5 pm), subject to the following:
Before 12 noon objections can be made to all nominations delivered up to and including 4pm, 20 days before the poll
Between 12 noon and 5pm objections can only be made to nominations delivered after 4pm, 20 days before the poll
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Before12 noon on Thursday 9 April objections can be made to all nominations delivered up to and including 4pm on Wednesday 8 April.
Between 12 noon and 5pm on Thursday 9 April objections can only be made to nominations delivered after 4pm on Wednesday 8 April
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Deadline for withdrawals
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19 days (4pm)
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4pm on Thursday 9 April
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Publication of first interim election notice of alteration
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19 days
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Thursday 9 April
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Deadline for the notification of appointment of election agent
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Not later than 18 days (4pm)
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Not later than 4pm on Friday 10 April
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Publication of statement of persons nominated, including notice of poll and situation of polling stations
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Not later than 18 days (4pm)
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Not later than 4pm on Friday 10 April
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Deadline for receiving applications for registration
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12 days
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Monday 20 April
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Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes
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11 days (5pm)
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5pm on Tuesday 21 April
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Publication of second interim election notice of alteration
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Between 18 days and 6 days
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Wednesday 22 April
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Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies)
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6 days (5pm)
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5pm on Tuesday 28 April
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Publication of final election notice of alteration
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5 days
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Wednesday 29 April
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Deadline for notification of appointment of polling agents and counting agents.
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5 days
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Wednesday 29 April
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First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes
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4 days
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Thursday 30 April
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Deadline for appointing sub-agents
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2 days
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Tuesday 5 May
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Polling day
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0 (7am to 10pm)
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7am to 10pm on Thursday 7 May
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Last time that electors can apply for a replacement for spoilt or lost postal votes
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0 (5pm)
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5pm on Thursday 7 May
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Deadline for emergency proxy applications
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0 (5pm)
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5pm on Thursday 7 May
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Last time to alter the register due to clerical error or court appeal
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0 (9pm)
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9pm on Thursday 7 May
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Verification and Count
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9am on Friday, 8 May
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Contact
If you require any further information, please contact:
Electoral Services Manager, Rachel Starr
rmstarr@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
01446 709304
Or
Electoral Services Deputy, Hayley Hanman
hhanman@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
01446 709345