Closed Lists were a misstep, cross-party STV bill would put the Senedd back on trackWales stands at an important crossroads in its democratic journey. ERS Cymru has developed a proposal to change the way we elect members of the Senedd, replacing the planned closed-list system with the Single Transferable...Posted 22 Oct 2025
Why the next Senedd could be the least representative of women everThe Senedd hit the headlines back in 2003 when it became the first legislature in the world to reach 50:50 gender parity between men and women. It was a proud moment for our country and...Posted 08 Apr 2025
Listen to our conversation with Mark Drakeford MS on Welsh democracyBack at Welsh Labour party conference in November, ERS Cymru hosted an ‘in conversation’ with Mark Drakeford MS where he reflected on the past, the present and the future of Welsh democracy. In a wide...Posted 16 Jan 2025
Big changes to Welsh Police and Crime Commissioner electionsToday, voters across Wales will have to show ID to vote for the first time as they head to the polls to elect four Police and Crime Commissioners, covering North Wales, Dyfed Powys, Gwent and...Posted 02 May 2024
New Senedd Bill is an investment in Welsh democracyYesterday in the Senedd, the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said “democracy only flourishes if you tend the garden to which it is sowed”. He was speaking in a statement around the recent publication of the...Posted 31 Jan 2024
Wales is leading the way as registering to vote is set to get easierThe age-old adage about waiting for a bus and two turning up at once seemed particularly appropriate last week as we gave evidence on the Elections and Elected Bodies Bill to a Senedd Committee. This...Posted 20 Nov 2023
We gave evidence to MSs on a new Bill to reform the Senedd – here’s what we saidIn September a new piece of legislation was introduced into the Senedd, which looks set to change how the Welsh Parliament looks and works. The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill, if passed, will see...Posted 10 Nov 2023
Welsh Government introduce Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) BillNext year the Senedd will mark a quarter of a century since its establishment. For many of those 25 years it has been apparent that the Senedd is too small. At just 60 members the...Posted 18 Sep 2023
Welsh Government to introduce progressive electoral reformsLast week in the Senedd, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced the Welsh Government’s plans for legislation for the next year. This covered eight new bills which the government hopes will become law. There was a...Posted 06 Jul 2023
We told the Welsh Government our suggestions for how to remove barriers to votingSince elections were devolved to Wales in the Wales Act 2017 there have been a lot of changes for Welsh democracy. We’ve seen the extension of the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds and...Posted 31 Jan 2023