WALES is set to become the first devolved nation in Britain to trial automatic voter registration, using local data to identify and enrol potential electors without formal applications. 

The pilots, launched under the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024, aim to remove barriers to democratic participation and ensure a more inclusive electoral process. 

Four local authorities — Carmarthenshire, Powys, Gwynedd and Newport — will test varying approaches to registering voters for the local government electoral roll, which is also used for Senedd elections. 

Housing and Local Government Secretary Jayne Bryant said: “By removing barriers to registration, this pioneering work is helping to ensure everyone can participate in our democratic process, particularly young people and traditionally underrepresented groups. 

“This initiative follows our extension of voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and qualifying foreign nationals for Senedd and local elections, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to a more inclusive democracy in Wales.”

The Electoral Commission will evaluate the pilots by the end of this year. 

The Welsh government will then consider the findings before making decisions on any nationwide implementation, which would require further legislation.