Swansea residents must register to vote if they want a say in the up and coming referendum on law making powers for the Assembly.
The formal Notice of Referendum for the National Assembly for Wales Referendum was published last week (January 27) to kick-off the official election period. And Swansea Council staff are pulling out all the stops to ensure everyone eligible to vote has the chance to have their say in the poll if they wish.
The referendum will take place on Thursday March 3.
It will ask people to vote either yes or no to the question: ‘”Do you want the Assembly now to be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for?”
If the majority of voters in the referendum vote yes then the Assembly will be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for without seeking agreement from the UK Parliament.
If the majority of voters vote no then the current process will continue whereby to make laws in some matters the Assembly must ask the UK Parliament for its agreement.
You can vote in the referendum if you are:
- Registered to vote in Wales
- Over 18 on March 3.
- A British citizen.
- A qualifying commonwealth citizen
- A citizen of the Irish Republic or an EU citizen.
Matthew Hillier, Swansea Council Electoral Services Officer, said: “Residents should take note that only those on the electoral register can have their say in the Referendum and the deadline for registering to vote is February 16.”
Anyone needing further information about the Referendum or the electoral register can call Swansea’s Electoral Services on 01792 636042 or go to the Council’s website on www.swansea.gov.uk/elections
Further details on the Referendum are also available from the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections/upcoming-elections-and-referendums/wales/referendum
You can find out more about who can register and get an application form at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
Currently the Assembly has powers to make laws in 20 subject areas:
- Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development
- Ancient monuments and historic buildings
- Culture
- Economic development
- Education and training
- Environment
- Fire and rescue services and promotion of fire safety
- Food
- Health and health services
- Highways and transport
- Housing
- Local government
- National Assembly for Wales
- Public administration
- Social welfare
- Sport and recreation
- Tourism
- Town and country planning
- Water and flood defence
- Welsh language
In each subject area, the Assembly can make laws on some matters but not others. To make laws on any of these other matters, the Assembly must ask the UK Parliament for its agreement. The UK Parliament then decides each time whether or not the Assembly can make these laws.
If the majority of voters in the referendum vote yes then the Assembly will be able to make laws on all matters in the 20 subject areas it has powers for without seeking agreement from the UK Parliament. If the majority of voters vote no then the current process will continue.
The Assembly cannot make laws on subject areas such as defence, tax or welfare benefits – whatever the result of the forthcoming vote.
