WELSH REGULATIONS , S>I>2026/91, make provision in relation to ABSENT VOTING and other matters, including limiting to a maximum of  3 years the period for which a person can apply to VOTE BY POST for a Senedd Election.

The RYCROFT REVIEW into countering FOREIGN FINANCIAL INFLUENCE AND INTERFERENCE in UK politics, published on 25 March 2026, considers the risks posed to democracy in the UK, and makes 17 Recommendations to mitigate those risks.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 ( Security Expenses Exclusion )( Amendment ) ( Wales ) Order 2026, S>I> 2026/852 means that candidates in WELSH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS will no longer have to account for reasonable expenses incurred for the protection of persons or property as part of their CAMPAIGN SPENDING.

The Senedd has passed the Representation of the People ( Removal of the Edited Register ) ( Wales) Regulations 2026, which, effective from 1 October 2026, will abolish the Open Electoral Register, and end the sale of Welsh voters’ PERSONAL DATA to third parties ( and also enable automatic voter registration for Senedd and local Elections.

These Council Elections  will now go ahead, the Government has announced.

The business of the House of Commons on Monday 23 February 2026 will include a Debate on the Local Authorities ( Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections ( England ) Order 2026 ( and an associated regret motion).

A MHCLG publication sets out POLICY SUMMARIES for the Representation of the People Bill introduced in the House of Commons on 12 February 2026.

A House of Commons Research Briefing discusses FLEXIBLE VOTING PILOTS for English LOCAL ELECTIONS in May 2026 and 2027.

A Welsh Government Consultation, published on 20 October 2025, seeks views, by 12 January 2026, on proposed changes to Welsh Local ELECTION RULES.

The consultation draft Senedd Cymru ( Representation of the People ) Order 2025, to come into force ahead of the planned 2026 Senedd Elections, outlines(1)  the procedure for conducting Elections to the Senedd, (2) how the Election and its campaign should be managed, and (iii) the processes for legal challenges to an Election.