Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru launches Senedd review

The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has launched a review of the Senedd constituencies in Wales, with the goal of establishing new boundaries for the 2030 elections. Unlike the previous method of pairing Westminster constituencies, the commission will now apply an electoral quota. This requires each of the 16 constituencies to contain between 135,225 and 165,275 voters, staying within 10% of the Welsh average.

In addition to voter numbers, the commission will consider local government boundaries, geographical features, local ties, and the Welsh language when drawing new lines. The review also includes the naming of constituencies; under current rules, seats should ideally carry a single-language name unless deemed unacceptable by the commission.

Initial proposals are expected in early 2027, which will trigger an eight-week public consultation period. Following this, the commission may hold public hearings and conduct further consultations if revisions are necessary. The final report must be submitted to Welsh Ministers by December 1, 2028. The review is strictly limited to boundaries and names and cannot address the number of members or the existing voting system.