Your vote is your voice.
Your vote lets you have a say on how the country is run. Whether you are voting in an election or a referendum, your vote is important.
Voting gives you a say over who makes decisions on issues that affect you.
When you vote, you help elect representatives who will run the country on your behalf. Elected Members make decisions on a wide range of issues including the NHS, housing, education, foreign affairs, defence, and the environment.
When you vote you help decide who will have power to:
- make rules and laws about issues that affect you
- decide how our country is run
Voting in elections
An election is an opportunity for you to use your vote to choose the person or political party you feel most closely represents your views.
In Cardiff, you can vote in:
- Local council elections, to choose who will represent you and your electoral ward in Cardiff Council
- Senedd elections, to choose who will represent you, your constituency and region in the Senedd
- UK General elections, to choose who will represent you and your constituency in the UK Parliament
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections, to choose who will check on the work of the Chief Constables and the police force where you live
Some areas in Cardiff also have a community council. If you live in one of these areas, you also get to vote on who will represent you and your local area in your community council.
Voting in a referendum
A referendum is an opportunity for you to use your vote to answer a question affecting everyone in the country.
Big decisions about the country and the way things work are usually made by the people you vote for in an election.
However, sometimes it’s important to know what everyone who is registered to vote thinks about a specific question. A referendum is usually used for ‘big’ questions, where everyone who is registered to vote is asked their opinion.
! You need to be registered to vote to be able to vote in any UK election or referendum.