(Title Image: Senedd Cymru via Twitter)
At a Glance Guide & Stage 2 changes
- Stage 1 report (summary)
You already know what the Bill is trying to do – set out procedures to allow a delay and/or manage the 2021 Senedd election and any local by-elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the Bill is being treated as an emergency bill, Stage 2 took place with all members in a “Committee of the Whole Senedd”. This happened on Tuesday (9th February 2021).
The key changes agreed to at Stage 2 include:
- Before proposing to delay the 2021 Senedd election, the First Minister must consult the Chief Medical Officer.
- Early voting/voting over multiple days will be allowed, subject to Senedd approval.
- New dates for local authority by-elections – which affect dates set down in primary legislation – need to be approved by the Senedd.
- The only opposition amendment accepted at Stage 2 (tabled by Plaid Cymru) requires a review of election preparedness every 21 days until the date of the election, starting on 19th February 2021.
The Key Amendments at Stage 3
Amendment 7 – Mark Isherwood MS (Con, North Wales)
Places a duty on the First Minister to publish the criteria used to justify a postponement of the 2021 Senedd election.
Vote: Approved – 47 for, 4 against, 1 abstention
Amendment 16 – Rhun ap Iorwerth MS (Plaid, Ynys Môn)
Places a duty on the First Minister to issue a statement before 24th March justifying a postponement of the 2021 Senedd election.
Vote: Approved – 39 for, 10 against, 2 abstentions
Amendment 17 – Rhun ap Iorwerth MS
Places a duty on the First Minister to issue appropriate guidance for anyone undertaking election campaigning until November 2021.
Vote: Approved unanimously
As this is an emergency Bill, it went straight to a final (Stage 4) vote and was approved by 36 votes to 5 with 9 abstentions.
