The Labour Government in Cardiff Bay has announced a pilot scheme that will see polling stations in four council areas open early to make it easier for young people to vote.
The pilots will mean people in Caerphilly, Torfaen, Bridgend, and Blaenau Gwent council areas will be able to vote before polling day for local elections next May. These locations will be a school, a college learning centre, and two council offices.
The pilots in all bar Bridgend will also mean people from anywhere in the county will be able to vote at a central polling station, not just one in their ward.
Three of these four councils are Labour-run and all four are in South Wales.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative and Shadow Constitution Minister Darren Millar MS said:
“These arrangements stink. They are unnecessary and appear to be an attempt to game elections in favour of the Labour Party.
“People in Wales already have ample opportunity to vote with 15 hours to vote on polling day in addition to postal and proxy voting that already enables people to vote flexibly and in advance.
“It will appear to many that Labour Ministers only want to promote voter turnout amongst groups that they think are more likely to vote Labour.”
