Future shape of Welsh Assembly to be decided today

Mid Wales voters will be putting a cross on their ballot papers for the candidate and party they want to represent them in the Senedd, as well as the party or independent from the regional ballot.

The region's current Assembly Members, Conservative Russell George for Montgomeryshire, and Labour's Ken Skates for Clwyd South, will both be looking to keep their seats.

Mr George faces opposition from Jane Dodds for the Liberal Democrats, Aled Morgan Hughes for Plaid Cymru, Des Parkinson for UKIP, Martyn Singleton for Labour, and Richard Chaloner for the Green Party. Mr Skates is up against Simon Baynes of the Conservative party, Aled Roberts for the Liberal Democrats, Mabon ap Gwynfor of Plaid Cymru, Duncan Rees of the Green Party, and Mandy Jones of UKIP.

In May 2011, Mr George was elected to represent Montgomeryshire, achieving a swing of nine per cent from the Liberal Democrats with 43.7 per cent of the vote, and a majority of 2,324.

Mr Skates was elected to the Assembly with 42.4 per cent of the vote in Clwyd South, enjoying a comfortable majority, increasing the Labour vote by 7.5 per cent, securing 8,500 votes ahead of the second place Conservatives.

The first assembly elections were held in 1999, when Liberal Democrat Mick Bates won the Montgomeryshire seat, holding it until 2011. That year Wyn Williams was unsuccessful in retaining the seat for the Liberal Democrats, and Mr George took office. In Clwyd South, the seat has been held by Labour since the first Welsh Assembly elections.

Unlike parliamentary constituencies, assembly constituencies are grouped into additional electoral regions. Montgomeryshire is part of Mid and West Wales and Clwyd South is part of North Wales, both represented by another four assembly members.