8. Debate: Stage 4 of the Welsh Elections (Coronavirus) Bill

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:34 pm on 10 February 2021.

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Photo of Julie James Julie James Labour 5:34, 10 February 2021

Diolch, Llywydd. I thank the Members I mentioned earlier for their contributions to the debate. If the Bill is passed today, we will make every effort to see it become law as soon as possible. We will continue to work closely with returning officers, electoral administrators, the Electoral Commission, the other Governments within the UK and everyone else involved in this year's elections, to enable our voters to participate in the democratic process in these unprecedented times. And through the duties placed upon us by the Bill and our wider work, we will keep Members fully informed about preparations for 6 May.

I would just like to mention once more to Members, as I have mentioned several times during this debate, that we are working very closely with the UK Government, who also take a pragmatic approach to this matter, and although they have at this point in time made it clear that they'd like the elections to go ahead, that is no different from what we have said. We would like the elections to go ahead as well. This is merely a pragmatic approach to ensuring that the democratic process can continue, and as many Members have seen, if the pandemic takes one of the unexpected turns that we know only too well it can take in these unprecedented times. So, for those reasons, I commend this Bill to the Senedd and hope that all Members will feel able to agree with it. Diolch, Llywydd.