On 7 May 2026, people across Wales will vote to decide who will represent them in the Welsh Parliament (Senedd Cymru) and form the next Welsh Government.
In other parts of the UK, separate elections will be taking place for the Scottish Parliament and some local authorities in England.
Ahead of the election, we want to share some key information with you and tell you how we plan to make an impact on the new Senedd and how you can get involved.
Your voice matters! And so does your vote.
Many laws are made by the UK parliament in Westminster, but the Senedd is responsible for lots of important areas, including:
Casting your vote in an opportunity to be heard and to shape the direction of policies which affect everyday life for people with muscle wasting conditions.
To vote in this election, you must be aged 16 or over and registered to vote. On election day, polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm. You can find more information about how to vote here.
All polling stations have to provide equipment to help disabled people to vote independently and secretly, including:
Disabled voters are also entitled to accommodations such as:
For the first time, the Senedd will expand from 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs) to 96 MSs. This change was introduced because the Senedd has continued to gain responsibilities since it’s creation in 1999. Supporters of the new structure argue that 60 MSs was no longer enough to properly scrutinise legislation or represent communities.
A new voting system is also being introduced. Previously, Wales was divided into 40 constituencies and five regions. These will now disappear, and the country will instead be divided into 16 larger constituencies. Under the new voting system, voters will only cast one vote for a political party, or for an “independent” candidate not aligned with a single party. Seats in the Senedd will then be allocated proportionally from party lists in each constituency.
You can read more about the new voting system here.
As a member of the Wales Neurological Alliance (WNA), we’re calling on the next Welsh Government to urgently improve care, support and outcomes for people living with neurological conditions. Alongside our partners, we are calling for:
1. A new workforce strategy for the neurology services in the NHS
2. An implementation plan for the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions
3. Increased funding support for people with neurological conditions
4. A new system for collecting and publishing data on neurological conditions
5. To ensure social care is included in the integrated delivery of the Quality Statement for Neurological Conditions
6. Address shortages in key Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)
The Alliance’s manifesto highlights how services remain unequal, under-resourced and overstretched, with people’s access to support often dependent on where they live rather than what they need.
You can read the full WNA Senedd Election Manifesto here.
After the elections, we’ll be reaching out to newly elected MSs and government figures to build collaborative relationships from the get-go. Our focus will be on sharing the experiences of people living with muscle wasting conditions, their families and carers, highlighting key priorities, and ensuring the voices of our community are heard.
We need your help with all this! So, please keep a look out for our updates on the Senedd election over the coming weeks.
You can sign up to receive our emails here to stay up to date with what we’re doing and find out how you can get involved.
