Each week, usually on a Thursday, a number of local council by-elections take place around Britain. As with UK parliamentary by-elections, these take place when a representative either resigns or dies and there is a vacancy to be filled.  On 11 September 2025, six local by-elections took place across England and Wales.

The outcomes in five of these contests highlight something we have identified at regular intervals over the last couple of years: the First Past The Post (FPTP) electoral system is not fit for purpose in our age of multi-party politics and is producing random results. First Past the Post is a disservice to voters.

The striking fact is that of the six by-elections that took place on 11 September, in five of them the winning candidate takes their place in a council chamber with the support of fewer than one-third of the voters in that election. In two of the contests, the winning candidate’s vote share was under 30%.

• Newmarket East (West Suffolk) – Reform UK (29.7%)
• Wilmslow Lacey Green (Cheshire East) – Conservatives (29.8%)
• Stotfold (Central Bedfordshire) – Reform UK (30.8%)
• Illtyd (Vale of Glamorgan) – Reform UK (31.3%)
• Talbot & Branskome (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) – Liberal Democrats (32.4%)

This is not the fault of the individual councillors elected; they have to compete in the system as it is. However, that system is clearly producing perverse outcomes when the views of over two-thirds of voters are regularly being completely ignored.

Local elections that are fit for purpose

It does not have to be this way. Local elections in two nations of the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are conducted using the Single Transferable Vote (STV), a system of proportional representation where voters rank candidates in order of preference.

When standard local elections take place in Scotland, between two and five councillors are elected to represent each ward. The proportional nature of the system means that the representatives elected to serve each ward far better reflect the political balance of views of voters in that area than is the case in England and Wales.

At local council level in Scotland, it is vanishingly rare to see single parties win underserved majorities of council seats, when they lack majority support within that area. This is far removed from the situation in England, under First Past The Post, as we saw at the local elections in May 2025, when single parties won overall majorities on multiple councils, despite receiving the backing of fewer than 40% of voters.

How Scottish by-elections work

If a Scottish councillor resigns or dies, a by-election takes place to elect one replacement. Voters rank as many or as few candidates as they like, in the same way as they do under the Single Transferable Vote. If no candidate wins over half the votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and the votes that had gone to them are moved to each voter’s second preference.

This process continues until a candidate achieves the support of over half of people who voted or only one candidate is left.  An example of this occurred in a Scottish by-election, on 26 June 2025, in the Fountainbridge & Craiglockhart ward of City of Edinburgh Council.

The first preference vote shares for the top six candidates were as follows and are a prime example of the multi-party world that British politics has now entered.

• Labour: 20.8%
• Liberal Democrats: 20.4%
• Green Party: 18.2%
• Scottish National Party: 14.5%
• Conservatives: 13.8%
• Reform UK: 7.9%

If this local by-election had occurred in England, under First Past the Post, then the Labour candidate would have been elected with the backing of just over one-fifth of voters. Almost 80% of voters would have been ignored.

Fortunately, the preferential system used in the Scottish context meant that the views of a wider portion of voters was taken into account and the winning candidate took up their place in the council chamber with the backing of a much more solid 54.8% of voters who turned out, once the preferences of each of the eliminated candidates had been transferred.

The graph below, from Ballot Box Scotland, shows how the vote transfers process unfolded, with the Liberal Democrats candidate emerging as the winner after all votes had been transferred.

 

On Tuesday, the Senedd approved regulations establishing the Welsh Voter Information Platform, as required by Section 26 of the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. This platform will centralise election-related information, making it easier for voters to access key details about elections, candidates and polling arrangements.

For years, the third sector in Wales has advocated for a centralised voter information resource as a way to build a more informed electorate. Following the 2022 Local Elections, Democracy Group Cymru, coordinated by ERS Cymru, held a workshop exploring ways to boost turnout and voter engagement. A key takeaway was the need for a single, reliable source of election information to help voters navigate the electoral process.

The platform forms a wider package of democratic reforms introduced during this Senedd term that aim to modernise Welsh democracy, remove barriers to participation and ensure that every voter has access to the information they need to make informed choices.

So, what will the Voter Information Platform do?

The platform will be managed by the newly established Election Management Board (EMB) within the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru. It will serve as a one-stop shop for election information, ensuring voters have access to key details about devolved elections. At a minimum, it will provide:

• Election notices, such as official announcements of elections and polling details.
• Candidate and party information, including election addresses and candidate statements.
• Polling station information, covering locations and accessibility arrangements.
• Election results, with official declarations post-election.

The EMB has scope to expand the platform’s remit, potentially including information on electoral systems, devolution and the voting process, ensuring Welsh voters have the tools they need to participate fully in democracy.

International lessons

The Welsh Elections Information Platform will not be the first of its kind – there are other examples of similar systems that have been used by democracies across the world.

Canada

In Canada, Elections Canada offers a centralised website offering key election details, including election dates, voter registration, candidate lists, polling station locations, and election results. A key feature of the platform is its integrated voter registration system, allowing voters to check and update the registration details online. It also provides guidance on different voting methods such as advance voting and mail-in ballots.

Australia

Australia’s Electoral Commission hosts a comprehensive voter information site covering elections at all levels – local, state and federal. Beyond voter resources, the site also includes extensive guidance for candidates, outlining nomination rules, campaign conduct and electoral regulations. This ensures not only that voters are well-informed but also that candidates understand the democratic process and their responsibilities.

New Zealand

New Zealand has two major voter information platforms. The first, Elections NZ, provides core election details, including how to vote, candidate information and interactive polling location maps. The second, policy.nz, is an independent initiative that allows voters to compare candidate statements and party policies side by side. At the 2020 general election, around 1 in 6 voters used the platform to help them make an informed decision.

While Wales’ platform will focus on providing election information for voters, there may be opportunities to learn from these models in the future.

Breaking down barriers to voting

Like with any new initiative, there are likely to be some challenges, particularly in raising public awareness. That is why the platform’s success will depend on a strong communication campaign to ensure voters, parties and candidates know it exists and how to use it. The platform in its initial form is also very centred around elections, and the EMB should look into expanding the remit of its information to show voters how they can engage with democracy 365 days a year.

That said, this platform presents an exciting opportunity to strengthen voter engagement and knowledge in Wales. The platform marks a significant step forward in improving voter engagement. With busy lives and multiple levels of government, it can be challenging for people to stay informed about elections. The voter information platform will simplify the process, ensuring voters have easy access to essential information about what they’re voting for and how to participate. When combined with broader democratic reforms – such as automatic voter registration – Wales is making the democratic process more accessible than ever before.

It’s great to see the Welsh government picking up ideas from civil society, and it also shows the impact that ERS Cymru can have in bringing these groups together. There are currently 60+ organisations from across Wales involved in Democracy Group Cymru, and we’re looking forward to more of our ideas being turned into legislation.

You can support the work of ERS Cymru by joining the Electoral Reform Society.

Join the Electoral Reform Society today

The latest Barn Cymru poll released earlier in December by YouGov for ITV Wales and Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre suggests that Plaid Cymru could be the largest party in the Senedd come 2026. The poll put Plaid on 24 percent of the vote, ahead of Labour and Reform UK who both were on 23 percent, and the Conservatives on 19 percent.

At Plaid Cymru’s autumn conference back in October ERS Cymru held a fringe event asking “Where next for Welsh democracy?”. Baroness Smith of Llanfaes, member of the House of Lords; Heledd Fychan MS, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central and Member of the Reform Bill Committee; and Councillor Elin Hywel, Cyngor Gwynedd (Gwynedd County Council), gathered to share their thoughts on the topic with Jess Blair, ERS Cymru Director chairing the discussion.

House of Lords Reform

Baroness Smith described how her first 6 months in the House of Lords has only made her more certain that our completely unelected second chamber is entirely inappropriate. Advocating for a fully elected chamber and flagging how the demographic skew in the make-up of the Lords marks their debates, giving the example of the debate on VAT charges for private schools, where many lords stood up and spoke on behalf of the 3% of children who attend private schools in the UK, yet hardly any for the 97% in state schools.

Baroness Smith stated that the removal of hereditary peers is a good first step towards reforming the House of Lords, but there is plenty more to be done. She would like to see the Labour government implementing more of their plans on House of Lords reform alongside other democratic reforms at Westminster – as detailed in the Brown Commission report.

Senedd Reform

Over the last few years, Senedd reform has, quite rightly, dominated discussions in Cardiff Bay. As Plaid Cymru’s representative on the Reform Bill Committee, Heledd Fychan MS spoke of how needed these reforms are, especially around the increase in number of members to 96. Her experience as a Councillor on Rhondda Cynon Taf council (with 75 councillors) showed her how a larger Senedd could improve scrutiny and committee work – a vital part of holding the Welsh Government to account and ensuring the best policies and legislation for the people of Wales.

She spoke of how the system wasn’t perfect, for example with the closed list PR electoral system, and raised how there were areas where Plaid are very disappointed. In particular with the withdrawal of the Bill which would have introduced legislative gender quotas. However she stated that it was still a marked improvement on the current system. Increasing the number of politicians is never going to be a popular decision, Heledd emphasised the need to parties and MSs to make the positive case for Senedd reform to the public.

With all of the changes happening ahead of the 2026 Senedd election, Heledd stressed the importance of clear communication to the electorate. She highlighted that in 2021 the potential of 16 and 17 year olds getting to vote wasn’t realised and that it was up to parties to make sure that they are appealing to newly enfranchised voters.

STV for Local Government

The option for local governments to move to a Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for their elections came in with the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021. Cllr Elin Hywel spoke of how vital it was that councils start having this conversation about democracy at a local level and how everyone in the community can be represented. The positive response of local people to Cyngor Gwynedd’s consultation on the change (over 72% of respondents in favour) showed the level of support improving local democracy.

The barriers to councils in Wales making the move to STV include the permissive nature of the change, putting all of the pressure on individual councils and Elin highlighted the sense that they were “doing this on our own” and whether it was fair to be going forward alone. She also raised the big challenge of getting a 2/3rd majority of councillors to vote for the change (46 of the 75 councillors on Cyngor Gwynedd), not least because the previous council meeting only had 45 councillors attend. The legislation as written has no flexibility for if councillors are off on sickness leave, maternity, or if a seat isn’t currently filled. It requires 2/3rd of the total number of councillors to vote yes for the change to happen no matter the circumstances at that time.

Elin spoke of the legislation requiring councils to lead by example and be brave, two things which Gwynedd has a history of doing, and the need for conversations between councils to share experiences and talk about councillors’ fears around the unknown. She also called for the Welsh Government to provide more guidance and support for councils in making these decisions going forward.

Next Steps

Less than two weeks after our fringe event, Cyngor Gwynedd held their historic vote on changing their electoral system to STV. With few exceptions the level of debate was high, as was the number of contributions across the chamber. Unfortunately, the vote in Gwynedd was lost and while the majority of councillors, 45 of the 75, voted for a fairer way to elect the council, it fell just one short of the two-thirds needed.

It was clear from our fringe event that Plaid’s ambition is to improve democracy at all levels of government for Wales. Given the potential for Plaid to become the largest party in the Senedd at the 2026 elections this continued commitment to improving democracy is exciting. We will be working with all parties ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections to ensure that their manifestos commit to improving democracy across Wales.

You can support the work of ERS Cymru by joining the Electoral Reform Society

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There was more fantastic news out of Wales today, as Ceredigion County Council released the results of their consultation on whether to change the voting system used at local elections to the fairer Single Transferable Vote (STV) form of proportional representation.

An incredible 67% of respondents favoured STV over the current First Past the Post system. This means that there were huge majorities in favour in all three councils that chose to consult their residents (60.2% in Powys and 72.2% in Gwynedd). This clearly shows that voters in Ceredigion and beyond feel strongly about the need to make our elections fairer.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Just like in multiple councils across Wales, there were residents in Ceredigion who were unable to express their views at the ballot box because only one person stood – so no election took place. In total, 13% of seats in 2022 in Ceredigion were decided in this way, without a single vote being cast. That’s not a sign of a healthy democracy.

Looking at the consultation responses, it’s clear that Ceredigion residents don’t feel as though this system is allowing their voices to be heard.

Residents of Ceredigion want change

Furthermore, this was not limited to a small demographic – STV was the preferred system in every single age group. Young people were particularly eager for the change. In both the 16-24 and 25-44 age brackets, over 80% of respondents were in favour. They can see that proportional representation is the future.

For far too long, the First Past the Post system has wreaked havoc with our elections. It has prevented some residents from voting, and it has fostered a political environment that favours partisanship over working together.

It is plainly clear that voters in Ceredigion are fed up with this and want change. Now, it is up to councillors to make FPTP a feature of the past at the council’s vote on Thursday 14^th November.

With two thirds of councillors needing to back this change for it to pass, there is an uphill struggle ahead of us. Yet over two-thirds of consultation respondents favoured the Single Transferable Vote, so we are urging councillors to follow their lead and vote for this change in similar numbers.

Add your name: All councils in Wales should adopt a fairer voting system

There was more fantastic news out of Wales last week, as Powys County Council released the results of their consultation on whether to change the voting system used at local elections. The results weren’t even close. Like in Gwynedd, the Single Transferable Vote (STV) was the clear favourite of residents of Powys.

An incredible 60.2% of respondents favoured STV over the current First Past the Post system. Furthermore, this consultation had a much higher response rate than others with almost 1300 people sharing their views. This clearly shows that voters really feel strongly about the need to make our elections fairer.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. Over 10,000 voters across Powys were denied their voice at the 2022 local election as there was just one candidate standing in their ward. In Machynlleth, the 2022 election marked the first time in over 40 years that residents could cast a vote in a local election, as all elections in the ward had been uncontested since 1980.

Judged by the response, Powys residents don’t feel that they live in a particularly healthy democracy.

Residents of Powys want change

This consultation clearly shows what the people of Powys want. With under a third of respondents supporting First Past the Post, it is obvious that voters are fed up and want change.

For far too long, the First Past the Post system has wreaked havoc with our elections. It has prevented some residents from voting, and it has fostered a political environment that favours partisanship over working together.

It’s clear that the residents of Powys want change and can see that STV can be that change.

Now, it is up to councillors to represent their constituents at a special council meeting this Thursday. With two-thirds of councillors needed to pass this change, we urge them to vote with the people’s will in mind and say yes to STV.

Add your name: All councils in Wales should adopt STV

There was some fantastic news out of Gwynedd last week, as Cyngor Gwynedd released the results of its consultation on whether to change the voting system used at local elections. The results weren’t even close, demonstrating clear support in Gwynedd to adopt the Single Transferable Vote (STV) version of proportional representation at local elections.

Almost 900 residents responded to the consultation. That’s almost 6 times the response rate of any other consultation held this year. In total, a staggering 72.2% of respondents said that they were in favour of electing their councillors using the Single Transferable Vote.

The consultation was held over the summer after councillors voted to consult residents on whether the change should be made, as per the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

Residents of Gwynedd are fed up with First Past the Post

Furthermore, this was not limited to a small demographic. STV was the preferred system in every age group.

This undoubtedly shows that voters in Gwynedd are fed up with First Past the Post and want change. This may not be surprising.

In 2022, 41% of council seats were uncontested in Gwynedd, which means the councillors took their seats without a vote being cast. 30,000 people lost out on their right to vote as their local democracy withers away under First Past the Post. That was more uncontested seats than the entirety of Scotland has had in all elections combined since 2007, when it switched to STV.

Residents of Gwynedd can see the benefits of STV and they want it. They want their voices to be heard. They want the diverse views of their community reflected, and they want their politicians to work together to solve problems.

It is plainly clear that voters in Gwynedd want the Single Transferable Vote. Now, it is up to councillors to support them at a special Council meeting on Thursday 24th October.

With two thirds of councillors needing to back this change for it to pass, there is an uphill struggle ahead of us. Yet over two-thirds of consultation respondents favoured the Single Transferable Vote, so we are urging councillors to follow their lead and vote for this change in similar numbers.

Add your name: All councils in Wales should adopt STV

Ceredigion County Council have just taken the next step of their journey towards fairer elections by launching a consultation on changing the voting system at local elections.

The consultation comes following the passing of a law in the Senedd which allows Welsh councils to choose how their councillors are elected, enabling councils to choose between First Past the Post, and the tried-and-tested Single Transferable Vote. Now, over the next six weeks, you have the chance to have your say on this potential change.

Complete the consultation

Local elections are an important part of democracy in Wales. But did you know that thousands of voters have a councillor that nobody voted for at all?

Due to the Westminster-style First Past the Post system (FPTP) used to elect councillors, a scourge of uncontested seats is damaging Welsh local democracy. An uncontested seat occurs where the number of candidates matches the number of seats up for election in a ward. When this happens, those candidates automatically become councillors, without local people in that area casting a single vote.

At the 2022 Welsh local elections, over 100,000 potential voters were denied the chance to cast a ballot due to these uncontested seats. Nine of the 22 Welsh council areas had at least one uncontested seat. Across the country, 74 candidates became councillors without voters having a say. This means 6% of all Welsh councillors taking their place following the 2022 local elections did not have to face the scrutiny of the ballot box.

Why do uncontested seats exist?

It might seem odd that nobody stood against these 74 candidates. Some would argue this is due to a lack of people coming forward to stand as councillors, but the reality is that the way we elect our councillors is the biggest culprit.

We know this because when we change the system, the problem all but disappears.

First Past the Post is an all-or-nothing system. Challenger candidates can put in weeks of work and win substantial shares of the vote but get nowhere at all. The barrier to winning election is just too high to make it worth trying.

But a lack of competition is not healthy for anyone. When uncontested seats become the norm, how are voters supposed to express their views? Years can pass without any input from the public.

What can we do to make every election competitive?

We have practical evidence from Scotland regarding what happened to uncontested seats when local authorities stop using First Past the Post. At their local elections in 2007 they rolled out a new voting system, the Single Transferable Vote (STV). At the final Scottish local elections using First Past the Post, held in 2003, there were 61 uncontested seats (5% of the total seats) but in the first two sets of Scottish local elections held under STV, there were zero uncontested seats. Although there have been a small number of uncontested seats at the two most recent sets of Scottish local elections, these are still at a much lower level than occurred under FPTP local elections in Scotland and which continue to occur in Wales.

Uncontested seats are much reduced under STV because councillors are elected in multi-member wards that ensure candidates have a genuine chance of being elected if they are able to garner a reasonable level of support among the local community. This means that even in areas where one party might be dominant, there is an incentive for other parties or independents to put forward candidates.

Welsh councils can follow Scotland and adopt the Single Transferable Vote

Gwynedd, Powys and Ceredigion are about to consult residents on a potential switch to STV, and all are near the top of the table for uncontested seats in 2022. In Gwynedd, a staggering 28 councillors (41% of the total) took their place without a vote being cast. In Powys, there were 7 uncontested seats (10% of the total) and there were 5 uncontested seats in Ceredigion (13% of the total). A change to STV in these councils would bring back competitive elections in wards    across Wales, giving voters a say once again.

There are many other reasons why a change to STV would benefit Welsh residents, not least in ensuring that the composition of local councils better reflects the way people actually vote in local elections. For example, under STV, it would be very unlikely that a party could win 70% of seats on a council, with just 47% of the votes, as Labour were able to do in Cardiff at the 2022 local elections. Similarly, Plaid Cymru won 60% of the seats, with 41% of the votes, in Ynys Mon.

The Welsh Democracy Deadline

A window of opportunity exists between now and 15 November 2024, for individual Welsh local councils to switch to using STV for their local authority elections. For this change to take place in time for the next set of local elections, in 2027, two-thirds of councillors on a local authority will have to vote in favour of the change at a formal council meeting.

Three councils (Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys) will soon begin public consultations, where they will seek the views of local residents on a potential switch of systems, before councillors make the final decision via votes in their council chambers.

We’ve made a tool so that people can easily contact their councillors in support of moving to the Single Transferable Vote. You can find it here.

It is time for these three councils and all the other councils in Wales to make the switch to STV, a move that will help energise local democracy in the country.

Add your name to our call for councils in Wales to ditch First Past the Post

Add your name today

There was fantastic news for voters coming out of Ceredigion last week, as their County Council voted YES to a public consultation on scrapping First Past the Post for their elections and bringing in the fair and proportional Single Transferable Vote (STV).

Ceredigion follows Powys and Gwynedd, who voted for consultations in December. The Single Transferable Vote is a tried and tested system that has been used in Scotland and Northern Ireland for over a decade.

Why can’t voters in Wales be properly represented?

In the last set of Welsh local elections, we saw over a third of councils get ‘unearned majorities’ where a party holds over 50% of the seats on less than 50% of the vote.

Take for instance Cardiff, where Labour hold 70% of the seats with just 47% of the vote. Or Ynys Môn, where Plaid Cymru have 60% of the seats despite winning 41% of the vote. This goes the other way too, across Wales parties lose as much as they gain from the distorting effects of First Past the Post. Plaid, standing as Common Ground with the Greens in Cardiff, ended with just 2 of the council’s 79 seats despite winning 17% of the vote across the city. It really is an electoral toss up for who gets represented – and who gets to set the agenda locally.

A democratic dawn for Welsh councils

I’ve been driving up and down the country, making connections and talking to councillors. We’ve presented to council chambers and met with group leaders. What they tell me, is that the effort our supporters have made to contact them has made a real difference.

A third of all councillors in Wales have been emailed by someone in their ward asking them to support the Single Transferable Vote. Our supporters in Ceredigion have played a vital role, contacting their councillors in the run up to the vital vote. If you live in Wales you can use our tool to contact your councillors.

What’s next in the campaign? 

While we wait for what’s next with Ceredigion following last week’s vote, for those in Gwynedd and Powys, the important consultation begins in May and as soon as we know all the information you will be the first to know. We will need your support and help.

Let’s remember though, that the consultation is only the first step, to finally rid themselves of First Past the Post in time for the next election, those councils will need two-thirds of their members to agree to a resolution before the 15th of November 2024.

By demanding a 2/3rds vote, these rules stack the deck against change. But Wales has a proud history of struggling for the vote in the first place, and has always pushed to be at the forefront of democratic change. Why should we settle for less at a local level?

It’s time our councils caught up and gave us a local democracy worthy of a modern, forward-looking nation.

Contact your councillors, and ask them to support STV

There was fantastic news for voters coming out of Powys and Gwynedd today, as their County Councils have voted YES to public consultations on scrapping First Past the Post for their elections and bringing in the fair and proportional Single Transferable Vote. 

Councillors in Powys voted 34 for a consultation and 26 against, with 2 abstentions. While Councillor in Gwynedd voted 43 for, 8 against with 2 abstentions.

Powys and Gwynedd County Council are the first councils in Wales to take this step since a law was passed in 2021 that gave councillors the power to move to the Single Transferable Vote (STV). The Single Transferable Vote is a fairer, improved way for us to choose our councillors – that’s been used in Scotland and Northern Ireland for over a decade. 

Local elections in Wales leave a lot to be desired 

In the last set of local elections in Wales we saw over a third of councils get ‘unearned majorities’ where a party holds over 50% of the seats on less than 50% of the vote. 

Take for instance Cardiff, where Labour hold 70% of the seats with just 47% of the vote. Or Ynys Môn, where Plaid Cymru have 60% of the seats despite winning 41% of the vote. This goes the other way too, across Wales parties lose as much as they gain from the distorting effects of First Past the Post. Plaid, standing as Common Ground with the Greens in Cardiff, ended with just 2 of the council’s 79 seats despite winning 17% of the vote across the city. It really is an electoral toss up for who gets represented – and who gets to set the agenda locally. 

Our campaign for local electoral reform in Wales 

While I’ve been driving up and down the country talking to councillors, ERS members and supporters have been playing their part in campaigning for everyone to be represented.  

A third of all councillors in Wales have been emailed by someone in their ward asking them to support the Single Transferable Vote. Supporters in Powys and Gwynedd have played a vital role, contacting their councillors in the run up to the vital vote. If you live in Wales you can use our tool to contact your councillors. 

Even with so much opportunity we were still disappointed to hear a lot of misinformation spouted by people who like the status quo. One councillor even said that STV would end the proud tradition of independent councillors – something that would be a surprise to the 152 Independent councillors in Scotland, elected with the Single Transferable Vote! 

What’s next? 

The consultation is the first step, but to finally rid themselves of First Past the Post in time for the next election, Powys and Gwynedd will need two-thirds of their members to agree to a resolution before the 15th of November 2024. If you live in either council area please keep an eye open for the consultation. 

By passing responsibility for changing the local electoral system to councillors themselves, and demanding a 2/3rds vote, these rules stack the deck against change. But Wales has a proud history of struggling for the vote in the first place, and has always pushed to be at the forefront of democratic change. Why should we settle for less at a local level? 

It’s time our councils caught up and gave us a local democracy worthy of a modern, forward-looking nation. 

Add your name to our call for local PR in Wales