Wales Proposes New Constituencies for 2026 Senedd Election

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has proposed significant changes to the constituencies for the 2026 Senedd elections, reducing the current 40 constituencies to 16. This restructuring will allow for 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs) to be elected, with each constituency electing six MSs through the D’Hondt method. The new boundaries involve pairing existing Westminster constituencies and ensuring they are contiguous for travel purposes. Public consultations on the proposals are open until September 30, with revisions expected in December and final decisions in March 2025. Notable proposals include a new constituency that combines Alyn and Deeside with Wrexham, and constituencies that stretch across significant geographic areas like the Llŷn Peninsula to the English border. The Commission aims for the new constituencies to reflect local ties and socio-economic considerations.