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Residents will be automatically added to the electoral register ahead of the 2027 local government elections, the Welsh Government has announced.

The change means eligible voters will no longer have to apply manually to join the register. Instead, Caerphilly County Borough Council will use existing data to identify unregistered residents, notify them of the change, and add them to the system automatically.

Residents will retain the right to opt out of the register if they wish.

The national rollout follows successful pilot schemes in Newport, Powys, Gwynedd, and Carmarthenshire – with the new regulations are expected to come into force this autumn.

The Welsh Government said the system is designed to improve the accuracy of the register and boost voter participation.

Siân Gwenllian, the Welsh Government’s local government minister, said: “Wales is leading the way on Automatic Voter Registration in the UK. These regulations will help improve both the accuracy and completeness of the local government electoral register and are an important step towards strengthening our democracy.”

She added: “We will continue to work closely with the electoral community to ensure the rollout is delivered carefully and effectively, providing the necessary support to all local authorities.”

The system will be introduced progressively across all 22 Welsh local authorities over the next year, allowing electoral registration officers to manage the transition ahead of the May 2027 council elections.