BLAENAU Gwent council’s managing director will oversee the Senedd election in May for the South Wales East region.

Michelle Morris will return to the role of returning officer for the upcoming Senedd elections, the Welsh Government minister for housing and local government, Julie James, has confirmed.

Ms Morris has held her role as managing director of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council since 2017 and was the returning officer for the General Election in 2019.

As the returning officer, Ms Morris has overall management of the election and is responsible for coordinating arrangements for the regional poll in South Wales East. She will collect the nominations for the Senedd elections and will announce the results.

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The South Wales East region covers eight constituencies. They are Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Islwyn, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, Monmouth, Newport East, Newport West and Torfaen.

Welsh Government minister Ms James said: “I would like to thank those who have agreed to take on the role of regional returning officers for this year’s Senedd Cymru elections.

“These elections will be particularly challenging as they are combined with the Police and Crime Commissioner elections but, more importantly, they will be the first Senedd elections for the newly enfranchised group of young people and qualifying foreign nationals.

“There is also the additional challenge of ensuring the election can be run safely in light of the on-going pandemic. This is a significant personal commitment for those who have agreed to take on this role and I am grateful we will have the benefit of their knowledge and experience.”

The other regional returning officers for Wales are;

  • Mid and West Wales – Eifion Evans, returning officer for the Ceredigion County Council.
  • North Wales – Colin Everett, returning officer for the Flintshire County Council.
  • South Wales West – Phil Roberts, returning officer for the City and County of Swansea.
  • South Wales Central – Debbie Marles, returning officer for the Vale of Glamorgan.