The 2016 National Assembly for Wales election was held on Thursday 5 May 2016, to elect members (AMs) of the National Assembly for Wales, now known as the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh: Senedd Cymru). It was the fifth election for the National Assembly, the third election taken under the rules of the Government of Wales Act 2006 and the first since the Wales Act 2014.
The governing Labour Party's share of the vote fell by over 7% and 29 Labour AMs were elected, one fewer than in 2011 and two short of an overall majority. Plaid Cymru became the Assembly's second largest party and the official opposition to the Welsh Government with 12 seats, one more than before. The 11 Conservative AMs were elected, three fewer than in 2011. Although they did not win a single constituency, the UK Independence Party (UKIP) had 7 members elected through the regional lists vote. The Liberal Democrats had only one AM returned, down from five.
In general elections for the National Assembly for Wales, each voter has two votes in a mixed member system. The first vote is for a candidate to become the Assembly Member for the voter's constituency, elected by the first past the post system. The second vote is for a regional closed party list of candidates. Additional member seats are allocated from the lists by the d'Hondt method, with constituency results being taken into account in the allocation. The overall result is approximately proportional.
Previously it was not allowed to stand in both a constituency and a regional list, but this rule was abolished by the Wales Act 2014. The Act also introduced a ban on dual mandates with the House of Commons: an Assembly Member is no longer allowed also to be an MP.
British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens living in Wales aged 18 or over on election day were entitled to vote.
Retiring AMs
The following, previously incumbent AMs, did not run for re-election:
^Graham Henry (16 July 2014). "Plaid Cymru's Jocelyn Davies to stand down as AM in 2016". walesonline. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Plaid AM Alun Ffred Jones to retire". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Rhodri Glyn Thomas Plaid Cymru AM to stand down in 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Cynon Valley AM Christine Chapman to stand down in 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^ abMartin Shipton (18 June 2015). "Llanelli AM Keith Davies to stand down". walesonline. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^Nick Powell (18 October 2015). "Labour Chief Whip to leave Assembly". ITV News. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
^ ab"First minister's tribute to AMs Edwina Hart and Gwenda Thomas". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^Rhodri Barker (22 September 2014). "Delyn AM Sandy Mewies to step down in 2016". northwales. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Islwyn AM to stand down". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert to stand down at 2016 Assembly Election". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Assembly presiding officer to stand down as AM in 2016". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajakalam"_". Removed Site. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
^"Monmouth Constituency Labour Party elections". monmouthlabour.org. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Veronica German". Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Protected Blog". wordpress.com. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood defends dual candidacy plans". BBC News. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Aled Roberts to lead North Wales regional list for Welsh Lib Dems". welshlibdems.wales. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
^"Party of Wales announces candidates for North Wales list". partyof.wales. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^ abcMartin Shipton (5 July 2015). "Leanne Wood tops Plaid's list of candidates for Assembly elections by just 10 votes". walesonline. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^ abcdMosalski, Ruth (11 April 2016). "The four women standing for the Women's Equality Party in the National Assembly election". WalesOnline. Media Wales. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
^"Veronica German chosen to lead South Wales East list for Welsh Lib Dems". Welsh Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Plaid Cymru announces candidates for South Wales East list". partyof.wales. Archived from the original on 19 July 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^ abc"Plaid Cymru announces candidates for South Wales West list". partyof.wales. Archived from the original on 19 July 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
^"Plenary - Fifth Senedd - Wednesday, 11 May 2016 13.30". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
^"Plenary - Fifth Senedd - Wednesday, 18 May 2016 13.30". Senedd Cymru. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
External links
The National Assembly for Wales has produced a website with information on the election.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2016 National Assembly for Wales election.