Legislative Consent: Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill

The Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 October 2024.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is a Bill “to make provision about absent voting in connection with local government elections in Scotland and Wales, elections to the Scottish Parliament and elections to Senedd Cymru; and for connected purposes.”

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd.

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill was agreed in Plenary on 16 September 2025.

Legislative Consent Memorandum – June 2025

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) (PDF 93KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 25 June 2025.

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Local Government and Housing Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee, with a reporting deadline of 15 September 2025 (PDF 36KB).

The Local Government and Housing Committee laid its report (PDF 199KB) on 17 July 2025. The Welsh Government responded to the report on 9 September 2025. (PDF 658KB)

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 244KB) on 31 July 2025.

The Welsh Government responded to the report in September 2025 (PDF 133KB).