Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024

Reports on assistance for disabled voters

24 Reports by the Electoral Commission

(1) The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (c. 41) (“the 2000 Act”) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 5, insert—

“5A Further provision about reports on Welsh elections

(1) After an ordinary election of councillors for counties and county boroughs in Wales or communities in Wales, the Electoral Commission must prepare and publish (in such manner as the Commission may determine) a report on the administration of the election.

(2) Subsection (3) applies to—

(a) a report under section 5 relating to a Senedd Cymru general election;

(b) a report under subsection (1).

(3) The report must include a description of the steps taken by returning officers to assist persons with disabilities that would otherwise adversely affect their right to vote at the election.

(4) In subsection (3)—

• “disability”, in relation to doing a thing, includes a short term inability to do it;

• “returning officer”—

  (a)

  in the case of a Senedd Cymru general election, means a returning officer (however described) designated in accordance with an order made under section 13 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32);

  (b)

  in the case of an ordinary election of councillors for local government areas, means an officer who is appointed under section 35(1A) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2).”

(3) Until the coming into force of sections 8 (Senedd general elections) and 9 (vacant seats) of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4), section 5A(3) of the 2000 Act also applies to a report under section 5 of that Act relating to an election held under section 10 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) (election for Senedd Cymru in the case of a constituency vacancy).