In a closed-list proportional representation system, voters cast a single vote for a party rather than ranking individual candidates. Legally, the ballot need only display the party name; candidate names are not a strict requirement. However, Wales's 2026 Senedd election chose to include the full ranked candidate list on the ballot paper itself [1][2]. This design decision prioritizes transparency, allowing voters to see exactly which individuals would be elected if that party wins seats, and reduces confusion about party nominees.

The "70+ candidates" figure mentioned in earlier discussion refers to the total number of candidates across all parties and independent entries that could appear on a single ballot in a larger 10-member constituency—not the size of individual party lists. If ten parties each field a full list of candidates, the ballot becomes physically larger and more complex to print and manage. Wales's 2026 system used 16 constituencies electing six members each [1], with parties nominating up to eight candidates per list [1]. A 10-member UK constituency following the Welsh model would similarly display all party lists on the ballot, creating a longer ballot paper but avoiding the need for voters to rank candidates themselves.

For a 2027 referendum leading to a 10-member PR system, the government could follow Wales's precedent and include candidate names on the ballot for clarity, or alternatively provide names in supplementary voter information materials (booklets, websites, polling station posters) to reduce ballot length. Either approach is legally permissible under closed-list PR. The key administrative challenge is not candidate visibility but rather the scale of ballot printing, counting procedures, and staff training—all of which remain substantial regardless of whether names appear on the ballot itself or in supporting materials.