麻豆约拍

4 May 2021

Hayley Pearce is a ‘virgin voter’. She’s never voted before, and never had an interest in Welsh politics… until now.

The Welsh Parliament elections take place on May 6th, and Hayley Pearce hasn’t got a clue. In her new programme Hayley: Virgin Voter, she’s set out to find out what it’s all about, and more importantly, use her vote.

Here’s what she has learned along her personal journey...

If you’re over 16, you can now vote in Wales!

The voting age has been lowered in Wales so young adults can now have their say on things that matter most to them like education, the environment, employment, healthcare and transport.

Welsh Parliament is made up of a mix of MSs (Members of the Senedd).

With 60 members, each candidate represents a constituency in Wales. As Welsh Labour currently holds the majority of seats within the Senedd, they control the Welsh Government with the support of one Liberal Democrat member and one independent member.

The remaining seats are currently split proportionally between Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives, Welsh Liberal Democrats, additional political parties, and independent members. Together they regularly discuss the pros and cons of policies and vote on whether they’re introduced in Wales - they do this at the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.

The Senedd is more than just a building…

Our day to day lives are shaped by everything that happens at the Senedd – it is the place where MSs debate, scrutinise and improve their policies, raise awareness of issues in their constituencies, and vote to introduce or scrap certain laws in Wales.

Policies discussed at the Senedd have recently included whether to ban single-use plastics in Wales. Some policies discussed like the ‘smacking ban’, a register of private landlords, and funding for childcare have later become law in Wales.

Deciding how to spend £17 Billion is harder than it looks!

Every year the Welsh Government receives £17 Billion of taxpayers money to spend in Wales. That may seem like a lot of money, but with so many priorities to choose from, dividing up funds is no piece of cake!

Currently, almost half of the Welsh Government’s budget is spent on health and social care in Wales, which includes everything from our incredible nurses, to our free prescriptions from the NHS.

The rest is split between a number of other important sectors and industries in Wales – your local council will receive funding to benefit you too!

Why the Senedd Election Matters

The Welsh Government have the power to make some big changes in Wales. If you don’t use your vote, your voice won’t be heard.

Previously, only 40% of people in Wales have turned out to vote in Senedd elections. With such a low voter turnout, perhaps you feel like the current Welsh Parliament doesn’t represent you. The upcoming elections are a chance to change that and show them what matters to you the most.