VOTERS across Gwynedd have called for the local council to change the electoral system, ahead of a key vote later this month.
The results of a public consultation on moving to the Single Transferable Vote (STV) in Gwynedd’s local elections have shown there is majority support for a move to the proportionally representative voting system in the area [1]. 72.2% of respondents to the consultation backed moving to STV from the current disproportionate First Past the Post electoral system, while only 24.8% backed the status quo. With 882 responses, the consultation was one of the most responded to of the year [2].
Local authorities in Wales were given the opportunity to change their voting system to STV under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021 [3]. Three councils made the decision to go to public consultation; Gwynedd, Ceredigion, and Powys [4].
The option for local councils forms part of a wider package of democratic reforms in Wales; the Senedd is set to expand to 96 Members and introduce Automatic Voter Registration [5].
The public consultation ran from mid-July to September and a vote will take place on the 24th of October.
Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said: “We are delighted with the results of the consultation which proves there is considerable public support for a change to STV in Gwynedd.
“If Gwynedd votes to move to STV, the local authority would be joining Scotland and Northern Ireland who use the system for local elections already.
“Gwynedd Council elections have suffered for decades at the hands of the current electoral system. In the 2022 local elections 41% of seats in Gwynedd were uncontested, affecting over 20,000 voters in the area. Indeed, Gwynedd had more uncontested seats at the 2022 elections than the whole of Scotland has had since it made the move to STV in 2007 [6].
“Councillors should take note of this groundswell in public support and vote to back a better democracy on the 24th of October.”
If approved, the new voting system will be in place for the 2027 elections.
