AN EASY READ GUIDE TO VOTING IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

AN EASY READ GUIDE TO VOTING IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION

The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account. CONTACT US q 0300 200 6565 E contact@assembly.wales www.2016.wales a @AssemblyWales b /NationalAssemblyforWales National Assembly for Wales Commission Copyright 2016 The text of this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading or derogatory context. The material must be acknowledged as copyright of the National Assembly for Wales

How to use this document This is an Easy Read version. The words and their meaning are easy to read and understand. You may need support to read and understand this document. Ask someone you know to help you. Some words may be difficult to understand. These are in bold blue writing and have been explained in a box beneath the word. If any of the words are used later in the guide they are shown in normal blue writing. If you see words in normal blue writing you can look up what they mean in Hard words on page 19. If you would like a version in large print, BSL, audio tape or another language please contact: Public Information team, National Assembly for Wales, North Wales Visitor Centre, Princes Park, Princes Drive, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL29 8PL Phone: 0300 200 6565 Email: contact@assembly.wales Website: www.2016.wales This document was made into Easy Read by Learning Disability Wales using Photosymbols. Page 2

Contents Page What is the National Assembly for Wales?...4 Assembly Members...4 National Assembly for Wales election...6 What is the Welsh Government?...7 Devolution...10 What is voting?...11 Am I registered to vote?...12 How to register to vote...13 How to vote...14 Choosing who you want to represent you in the National Assembly...15 Who is my Assembly Member at the moment?...16 Subject areas...17 Hard words...19 Page 3

What is the National Assembly for Wales? Assembly Members The National Assembly for Wales is a group of 60 people from different parts of Wales. These people are called Assembly Members. The job of an Assembly Member is to speak up for the people in their part of Wales, and where they can, help them with what they need. They: stand up for what is important to the people of Wales look at new laws for Wales and vote on if they should be passed make sure the Welsh Government is doing what it should do. Page 4

Assembly Members do their work in: an office in their own area. You can visit them at their office and tell them about issues that are important to you meetings a building in Cardiff called the Senedd. The Senedd is where all Assembly Members come together to talk about the issues that are important to Wales. Assembly Members are usually part of a political party. Some Assembly Members are Independent Assembly Members. Independent Assembly Members represent themselves and are not part of a political party. Page 5

The National Assembly for Wales has its own television channel on the internet, where you can watch Assembly Members do their work. The address is www.senedd.tv You can also follow the National Assembly for Wales on Twitter. The address is https://twitter.com/assemblywales National Assembly for Wales election Every 5 years there is an election for the National Assembly for Wales. At the election you get to choose the Assembly Members for your area. The next election is on Thursday 5 May 2016. Page 6

What is the Welsh Government? After the National Assembly for Wales election, the party that has a majority gets to form a government. A majority is when more than half of the elected Assembly Members are from one party. There are 60 Assembly Members in the National Assembly for Wales. So to have a majority a party needs to get at least 31 Assembly Members elected. If no party has a majority, a coalition government is usually formed. A coalition government is when two or more parties work together to run the country. Page 7

The Welsh Government: makes big decisions about Wales suggests what new laws it thinks Wales needs creates policy Policy is a set of plans or actions agreed on by the Welsh Government. spends money on things like hospitals, schools, and roads in Wales. The Welsh Government is led by the First Minister. The First Minister is the leader of the Welsh Government, and is usually the leader of the party who won the most votes in the National Assembly for Wales election. Page 8

The First Minister chooses Ministers and Deputy Ministers. These are people from their party who are in charge of looking after different subject areas. There are 21 subject areas including: education health services for example, ambulance service and hospitals roads and transport. Page 9

Devolution The Welsh Government and the National Assembly for Wales are responsible for 21 subject areas that have been devolved to Wales. A full list of the areas is on page 19. Devolved / devolution. This means that the UK Parliament has agreed that the National Assembly for Wales can make its own decisions about 21 important areas like health, and education. The UK Parliament still makes decisions about some things that affect people living in Wales, like: policing benefits the Armed Forces. Page 10

What is voting? Voting gives you a say in things that affect your life. Things like: schools and colleges housing health services for example, ambulance service and hospitals. Voting allows you to choose the people who will make decisions about these things. You have the same rights as everybody else. If you are over 18 you can vote. But first, you need to find out if you are registered to vote. It is important that you register to vote. You cannot vote unless you are registered. Page 11

Am I registered to vote? You can find out if you are registered to vote by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office. You can find your local office at: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk If you are not registered to vote, go to page 13. If you are registered to vote, go to page 14. Page 12

How to register to vote Before you can vote in an election you need to register to vote. You need to be 18 years old or more to vote. But you can register from the age of 16. You can register to vote by filling in a form online at: http://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. If you need more help with registering to vote, the Electoral Commission has some Easy Read guides on their website: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/ accessibility/alternative-formats/easy-read Remember: You must register to vote before midnight on Monday 18 April 2016. If you do not register before midnight on Monday 18 April 2016, you will not be able to vote in the National Assembly for Wales election on 5 May 2016. Page 13

How to vote Remember you need to register to vote first before you can vote in the National Assembly for Wales election. If you are not sure if you are registered, go to page 12. To find out how to register to vote, go to page 13. There are 3 different ways that you can vote: 1. Voting at a polling station. 2. Voting by post. 3. Voting by proxy. Voting by proxy is when you ask someone you trust to vote for you. The Electoral Commission has some Easy Read guides about how to vote on their website: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/ accessibility/alternative-formats/easy-read Page 14

Choosing who you want to represent you in the National Assembly On 5 May 2016 you can vote for who you want to represent you in the National Assembly for Wales. You can find out more about the National Assembly for Wales on page 4. You need to vote for: 1. Your Constituency Assembly Member This is the person you want to represent your constituency in the National Assembly for Wales. Constituency Your consitituency is your local area. For example, Caerphilly is a constituency in south Wales and Wrexham is a constituency in north Wales. 2. Your Regional Assembly Members These are the people you want to represent the region of Wales you live in, in the National Assembly for Wales. Region There are 5 regions in Wales: North Wales, Mid and West Wales, South Wales West, South Wales Central, or South Wales East. In this vote you will vote for the party that you want to represent the region rather than a person. Page 15

Who is my Assembly Member at the moment? Every person in Wales is represented by 5 Assembly Members in total: 1 Assembly Member for your constituency (the local area in which you live), and 4 Assembly Members who represent your region (either North Wales, Mid and West Wales, South Wales West, South Wales Central or South Wales East). Page 16

Subject areas Assembly Members make decisions about 21 subject areas. These are: 1. Agriculture, Forestry, Animals, Plants and Rural Development 2. Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings 3. Culture 4. Economic Development 5. Education and Training 6. Environment 7. Fire and Rescue Services and Fire Safety 8. Food 9. Health and Health Services 10. Highways and Transport Page 17

11. Housing 12. Local Government 13. National Assembly for Wales 14. Public Administration 15. Social Welfare 16. Sport and Recreation 17. Devolved taxes 18. Tourism 19. Town and Country Planning 20. Water and Flood Defence 21. Welsh Language Page 18

Hard words Assembly Members The job of an Assembly Member is to speak up for the people in their part of Wales, and where they can, help them with what they need. They: stand up for what is important to the people of Wales look at new laws for Wales and vote on if they should be passed make sure the Welsh Government is doing what it should do. Coalition government A coalition government is when two or more parties work together to run the country. Constituency Your Constituency is your local area. For example, Caerphilly is a constituency in south Wales and Wrexham is a constituency in north Wales Constituency Assembly Member This is the person you want to represent your constituency in the National Assembly for Wales. Devolved / devolution This means that the UK Parliament has agreed that the National Assembly for Wales can make its own decisions about 21 important areas like health, and education. First Minister The First Minister is the leader of the Welsh Government, and is usually the leader of the party who won the most votes in the National Assembly for Wales election. Page 19

Independent Assembly Members Independent Assembly Members represent themselves and are not part of a political party. Majority A majority is when more than half of the elected Assembly Members are from one party. Policy Policy is a set of plans or actions agreed on by the Welsh Government. Region There are 5 regions in Wales: North Wales, Mid and West Wales, South Wales West, South Wales Central or South Wales East. Regional Assembly Members These are the people you want to represent the region of Wales you live in, in the National Assembly for Wales. Senedd The Senedd is where all Assembly Members come together to talk about the issues that are important to Wales. Voting by proxy Voting by proxy is when you ask someone you trust to vote for you. Page 20