, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Could I just ask one question on that, please? Sorry to interrupt, Sarah. We've had six elections in which there's been a regional closed list-type approach, but they also have been linked into a constituency first-past-the-post election. In your…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Okay. Sarah.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Possibly, yes.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Obviously, we are scrutinising the Bill, and we will be making a report that may well have recommendations, depending on the evidence we receive. If the Government brings forward changes, or the Senedd decides to change the systems within the Bill, is that…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
So, you think that six months is what you really need to ensure—
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Before I move on to Sarah, just one question on the conduct Order for the 2026 elections. I would just like clarification as to what you think the last date is that needs to be set to ensure that elections can go smoothly, shall we say.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Heledd, had you finished?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Jane.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Thank you for that clarification. Heledd.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
And Elan.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
I just want to ask Rhydian one question, if that's okay, Elan. You said you have been working well with the Welsh Government and officials, and therefore, my assumption from that comment is that there is nothing in this Bill you didn't expect.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
Thank you very much. We did hear it, Rhydian. We did hear you.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with the Electoral Commission
So, we go into item 2 of the session, and that's our first evidence session of the morning, and that's with the Electoral Commission. Can I welcome online our three witnesses? That's Dame Elan Closs Stephens, who is the Electoral Commissioner for Wales…
, Reform Bill Committee
Introductions, apologies, substitutions, and declarations of interest
Good morning. Could I welcome Members and the public to today's session of the committee's continuation of deliberations on the Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill? Before we go into our first item of business, can I just remind people of a few things?…
, Plenary
Topical Questions
I thank the Minister.
, Reform Bill Committee
Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public for the remainder of the meeting
Item 4, therefore, is a motion under Standing Order 17.42 to exclude the public from the remainder of today's meeting. Are Members content to do so? You are. Therefore, we will now move into private session.
, Reform Bill Committee
Papers to Note
For Members, we move on to the next item, which is papers to note. There is a paper, which is the letter from the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution that responds to our follow-up questions to him after our first evidence session with the…
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Thank you very much.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
And the doers are the most important, because it doesn't work without you.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Thank you. Well, to both of you, thank you very much. You will receive a copy of the transcript. If you see any factual inaccuracies, can you please let the clerking teams know as soon as possible so we can get them corrected?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
And we will welcome you back on that evidence, because, clearly, that Bill is likely to come to us.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Okay, I just wanted to make sure.
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
Can I just remind you that there's certain information that might not be in the public domain at this point, because the Bill hasn't been published?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
You have, but what complexity would that add to your roles? Because it's mainly focused on candidate lists and very much focused on parties. But what complexity would that add to your roles in actually being able to develop and deliver the elections?
, Reform Bill Committee
Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Bill: Evidence session with Electoral administrators
On that final point, perhaps I shouldn't raise this, but, as you are aware, there is a third Bill coming down the line, which—
