When can we expect to find out all the Senedd election results?

The polls closed at 10pm on Thursday, but Covid means counting will not begin until Friday morning. Credit: PA Images

Voters across Wales have attended polling stations to choose who they want to be in power in the next Welsh Parliament.

Polling opened at 7am and closed at 10pm on Thursday, with safety measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid.

Some people experienced long queues due to social distancing, and were urged to bring their own pen or pencil.

Restrictions prevented overnight counts from taking place as usual, meaning counting will not begin until Friday morning.

So when can we expect to find out the Senedd election results?

Over-18s had three different ballots to fill out. Credit: PA Images

  • When will we get the results?

This year, for the first time since 1999, there were no overnight counts due to Covid. Instead, votes will start getting counted on Friday morning.

For these elections, it is difficult to predict when the results will be announced. Because of the pandemic, authorities are unsure how long it will take to count votes while also keeping to social distancing requirements.

It is expected that some constituency results will be announced from 1.30pm, with the majority expected to be announced around 5.00pm.

Estimated declaration times have always come with a warning and should only be taken only as a rough guide, but here are predicted times for some constituencies:

  • Aberavon 5.00pm

  • Alyn and Deeside - Announced

  • Bridgend - Announced

  • Blaenau Gwent - Announced

  • Caerphilly - Announced

  • Cardiff South & Penarth 6.00pm

  • Cardiff West 6.00pm

  • Carmarthen East and Dinefwr 1.30pm

  • Carmarthen West and Pembrokeshire South - Announced

  • Ceredigion 2.00pm

  • Clwyd South - Announced

  • Delyn - Announced

  • Gower - Announced

  • Llanelli - 1.30

  • Monmouth - Announced

  • Neath - Announced

  • Newport East - Announced

  • Newport West 5.00pm

  • Ogmore - Announced

  • Preseli Pembrokeshire 6.00pm

  • Rhondda 2.00pm

  • Swansea East - Announced

  • Swansea West - Announced

  • Vale of Clwyd - Announced

  • Vale of Glamorgan 4.00pm

  • Wrexham 5.00pm

These are only potential estimations and could change in certain circumstances, for example if there was a recount in a constituency due to the results being very close between candidates.

As the regional seats are dependent on the constituency results, these are expected later on in the evening.

  • How can I follow the results?

ITV Wales is broadcasting a special three-hour programme on Friday from 2pm to bring audiences the results live as they happen.

Coverage of this will be shown live on ITV Wales' digital platforms including Facebook, Twitter and the ITV News YouTube channel. The ITV Wales digital team will also be bringing its audiences up to date with all-day coverage on its website.

There will also be Wales at Six presented by Jonathan Hill followed by an hour-long results programme from 9pm.

Polling stations closed at 10pm on Thursday. Credit: PA Images

  • How did voting work on polling day?

For the Senedd election, everyone who has registered and is over the age of 16 received two ballot papers.

The first vote was for a constituency candidate. This involved voters simply putting a cross by their preferred candidate's name.

The second ballot was for a regional vote, where voters chose a party to represent them.

Over-18s could also vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election. This election was due to be held last year, but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Voters received another ballot paper for this election, where they could vote for their first and second choice candidate. They could choose just one if they preferred.

The Senedd in Cardiff Bay houses a debating chamber and several committee rooms. Credit: PA Images

  • A history of the Senedd

It is 22 years since devolution began to see law-making and taxation powers moved from Westminster to Cardiff Bay.

Responsibilities for health, education, economic development, transport, the environment, agriculture and local government were handed to Wales.

The National Assembly for Wales opened in 1999 following the result of a referendum in 1997.

It initially met in Crickhowell House, later renamed Ty Hywel after the early medieval Welsh law-maker Hywel Dda.

A purpose-built debating chamber opened in 2006 and was named the Senedd, the Welsh word for 'parliament'. Another referendum in 2011 gave it much greater law-making powers.

The Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 not only lowered the voting age for Senedd elections but extended the right to vote to all foreign nationals legally resident in Wales.

It also changed the Assembly's name to Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament. Its members became known as Members of the Senedd or MSs, instead of Assembly Members or AMs.

Since the pandemic, the Senedd has usually met either entirely virtually or else in hybrid form, with some MSs in the debating chamber and the rest joining by video conference.

The new Senedd will meet next week after the sixth election since 1999. The first business will be to elect a presiding officer, known as the Llywydd.