LegalizeThe Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2026
Made: 9 March 2026
Coming into force: 17 March 2026
The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by article 23(4)(a) to (c), (6) and (11) of the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025[^f00001], make the following Order.
Title and coming into force
1
- (1) The title of this Order is the Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2026.
- (2) This Order comes into force on 17 March 2026.
Interpretation
2
In this Order—
- “the 2006 Act” (“Deddf 2006”) means the Government of Wales Act 2006[^f00002];
- “the 2025 Order” (“Gorchymyn 2025”) means the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025;
- “returning officer” (“swyddog canlyniadau”) means the officer who, in accordance with article 18(2) of the 2025 Order, is the returning officer for a Senedd constituency;
- “Senedd” (“Senedd”) has the same meaning as in section 1(1) of the 2006 Act[^f00003];
- “Senedd constituency” (“etholaeth Senedd”) is to be construed in accordance with section 2 of the 2006 Act[^f00004];
- “Senedd election” (“etholiad i’r Senedd”) means an election to return a Senedd member for a Senedd constituency.
Overall maximum recoverable amount for a contested Senedd election
3
The overall maximum amount a returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd election is the amount listed for each constituency in column 4 of the table in the Schedule.
Maximum recoverable amount for services rendered at a contested Senedd election
4
- (1) The total amount a returning officer may recover for services rendered for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd election must not exceed the amount listed for each constituency in column 3 of the table in the Schedule.
- (2) Any services rendered must be for, or in connection with—
- (a) making arrangements for the election;
- (b) conducting the election;
- (c) discharging all of the returning officer’s and electoral administrator’s duties in respect of the election.
Maximum recoverable amount for specified expenses incurred at a contested Senedd election
5
- (1) The total amount a returning officer may recover for specified expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd election must not exceed the amount listed for each constituency in column 2 of the table in the Schedule.
- (2) A returning officer may recover specified expenses incurred for, or in connection with—
- (a) the appointment and payment of persons to assist the returning officer;
- (b) travel and overnight subsistence for the returning officer and any person appointed to assist the returning officer;
- (c) the costs of the nomination process;
- (d) printing or otherwise producing the ballot papers;
- (e) printing or otherwise producing or purchasing postal vote stationery;
- (f) printing or otherwise producing, and arranging for the delivery of, poll cards;
- (g) printing or otherwise producing and publishing all election notices and documents;
- (h) renting, heating, lighting, cleaning, adapting or restoring any building or room;
- (i) providing and transporting equipment;
- (j) providing information and communications technology equipment and software and associated costs;
- (k) providing security, including secure storage of ballot boxes, ballot papers and verification documents;
- (l) conducting the verification and the count;
- (m) providing and receiving training;
- (n) providing stationery and meeting postage, telephone, printing, translation and banking costs and the costs of other miscellaneous items.
Overall maximum recoverable amount for an uncontested Senedd election
6
The overall maximum amount a returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, an uncontested Senedd election is £2,500 (two thousand five hundred pounds).
Schedule — Total recoverable amounts for services rendered and expenses incurred at a contested Senedd election
| 1. Senedd constituency | 2. Total amount for expenses incurred | 3. Total amount for services rendered by electoral administrators | 4. Overall maximum recoverable amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afan Ogwr Rhondda | £638,116 | £16,900 | £655,016 |
| Bangor Conwy Môn | £538,346 | £16,900 | £555,246 |
| Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni | £597,908 | £16,900 | £614,808 |
| Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd | £606,287 | £16,900 | £623,187 |
| Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf | £600,488 | £16,900 | £617,388 |
| Caerdydd Penarth | £605,179 | £16,900 | £622,079 |
| Casnewydd Islwyn | £658,519 | £16,900 | £675,419 |
| Ceredigion Penfro | £659,071 | £16,900 | £675,971 |
| Clwyd | £646,622 | £16,900 | £663,522 |
| Fflint Wrecsam | £630,004 | £16,900 | £646,904 |
| Gwynedd Maldwyn | £628,161 | £16,900 | £645,061 |
| Gŵyr Abertawe | £640,652 | £16,900 | £657,552 |
| Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg | £651,891 | £16,900 | £668,791 |
| Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr | £621,515 | £16,900 | £638,415 |
| Sir Fynwy Torfaen | £620,165 | £16,900 | £637,065 |
| Sir Gaerfyrddin | £659,653 | £16,900 | £676,553 |
Signed
Jayne Bryant — Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, one of the Welsh Ministers — 9 March 2026
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Order is made under article 23 of the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/864) (W. 150) (“2025 Order”) which provides that a returning officer is entitled to recover charges in respect of services rendered or expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a Senedd Cymru election.
This Order contains the maximum amounts a returning officer may recover for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, the conduct of a Senedd Cymru election.
The previous charges order, the Senedd Cymru (Returning Officers’ Charges) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/315) (W. 80), was revoked, subject to certain savings provisions, on 18 July 2025 by the 2025 Order.
Articles 3, 4 and 5 of this Order specify the maximum amounts recoverable by returning officers for services rendered and expenses incurred for, or in connection with, a contested Senedd election. The amount recoverable for services rendered is concerned with electoral administration and the discharge of duties relating to the election by returning officers and electoral administrators. The amounts are listed in the table in the Schedule.
Article 6 specifies the maximum amount recoverable by returning officers for an uncontested Senedd election.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to this Order. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has been prepared as to the likely costs and benefits of complying with this Order. A copy can be obtained from the Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ and on the Welsh Government’s website at www.gov.wales.
Footnotes
[^f00001]: S.I. 2025/864 (W. 150).
[^f00002]: 2006 c. 32.
[^f00003]: Section 1(1) was amended by paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 (anaw 1).
[^f00004]: Section 2 was substituted by section 2(1) of the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act 2024 (asc 4).
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