Workshops to encourage young people and communities to register to vote
The 'My First Vote Tour' was held during November this year in conjunction with Ceredigion Electoral Services and the Senedd Commission to raise awareness among pupils and communities about their right to vote in the Senedd Elections in 2026.
Between 10 and 21 November, a series of sessions were held for more than 720 young people in the Ceredigion area of the Ceredigion Penfro constituency.
This included sessions for the county's secondary schools, Ceredigion Disability Forum, Aberaid, ESOL students, students at Coleg Ceredigion, students at Aberystwyth University, and many more.
The sessions are designed to help hard-to-reach young people and communities understand the voting process, the role of Parliament, and the importance of participating in democracy. Participants had the opportunity to learn how to register to vote, explore the role and work of the Senedd and take part in a sham election.
Eifion Evans, Returning Officer for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, said: "It's vitally important that our young people know what to expect when they go to vote for the first time and our intention with this trip is to ensure that they understand the importance of registering to vote but also that they understand what responsibilities the Senedd has and that the right to vote gives young people a real voice when it comes to shaping the future of Wales."
Kiani Francis, Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament for Ceredigion and a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Penglais, added: "Our session on learning about voting rights for young people was a great experience for us to think critically and discuss how significant young people who vote can be. Whether that was through the interactive mock election, which helped us understand the new system of proportional representation, or the statistics that highlighted how under-represented young people are in contemporary politics. I was grateful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge of how the new voting system would work in a practical way."
Bethan Roberts, Education and Youth Engagement Officer (Mid and West Wales) Welsh Parliament, said: "We are very proud to have collaborated with the Electoral Services in Ceredigion to provide sessions about Senedd Cymru and voting for the young people of the county. The sessions have been specially tailored to explain the powers that Senedd Cymru has and how to practically go about registering to vote and casting a vote."
The Senedd Election will take place on 07 May 2026.
You must register to vote by 20 April 2026: Register to vote
What I need to know to register to vote:
- You can register to vote in Wales at the age of 14; you must be 16 years old to vote in the Senedd (Senedd Cymru) and many local elections in Wales.
- You don't need to register before every election – you'll stay on the register unless you move, change your name or are asked to update it.
- You will be asked for your National Insurance (NS) number, but you can still register without one.
- Online registration takes about five minutes.
- Eligible foreign nationals living in Wales can also register for Senedd and local elections if they meet the residency requirements and are aged 16.
More information about the Senedd Election – Ceredigion Penfro Constituency can be found here: Welsh Parliament Election
03/12/2025