There is disagreement on whether the Senedd elections next year should go ahead amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The next elections for the Welsh Parliament are due to be held on May 6, 2021, but there are concerns that this will be impossible if lockdown rules in Wales are as strict as we saw in May 2020.
Even if Wales is not in a lockdown, the logistics of people from all over a community attending polling stations could be a public health risk if the virus is circulating widely in Wales.
This year, 16 and 17-year-olds will be voting for the first time further swelling the numbers at polling stations.
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In order to plan for the eventuality, a group involving representatives from the Conservatives, Lib Dems, Labour, Plaid Cymu, the Brexit Party, the Senedd and Electoral Commission as well as the Welsh and UK governments is meeting to decide what can be done.
All involved agree that the election going ahead as scheduled is the best option but a draft report, seen by BBC Wales agreed:
- People who have previously been shielding should be urged to apply for a postal vote
- There should be more flexibility for postal and proxy voters, for example, increasing how many people one person can be a proxy voter for
- People should be able to vote even if they are in local lockdowns
There is however reportedly disagreement over any potential delay in those elections with Labour, Plaid and the Lib Dems wanting a delay as a potential worst cases scenario option and the Conservatives and Brexit Party disagreeing.
Once the report is finalised it will be submitted to the Welsh Government and potentially debated on the floor of the Senedd
