Internal Party Elections
Our party is run by members, for members. Whether it’s our leader, members of party committees or the teams that run your local party, everyone is elected by other members.
On this page you can find out about current elections, how you can stand, and how you can nominate other members.
This page covers:
- Which roles are currently open for application?
- Who is eligible to apply?
- How do I apply?
- How do I show my support for applicants?
- What happens next?
Which roles are currently open for application?
Elections for committee places were originally held in 2022 however some positions have recently become vacant. We are currently inviting applications to fill these vacant roles. The term of office in until the end of 2025.
Party Officers
Party Officers are lead members for one of the party’s functions and sit as members on several committees.
Current vacancies:
- Executive Officer for Membership Development (1 vacancy)
- Treasurer (Chief Fundraiser) (1 vacancy)
- Diversity Officer (1 vacancy)
Welsh Party Committee Members
Ordinary Committee Members are elected by members to represent them on party committees while the Representative from Local Government on the Policy Development Committee is elected by our elected councillors.
Current Vacancies:
- Ordinary Member of the Welsh Board (1 vacancy)
- Ordinary Member of Campaigns & Communications Committee (3 vacancies)
- Ordinary Member of the Policy Development Committee (2 vacancies)
- Representative from Local Government on Policy Development Committee (1 vacancy)
- Ordinary Member of Finance & Resources Committee (1 vacancy)
- Ordinary Member of Conference Committee (2 vacancies)
Representatives to Federal Party Committees
To ensure that the whole of the country are represented within the Federal Party’s decision making, the Welsh Party has representatives on Federal Party Committees. The representatives are responsible for ensuring that the decisions taken by the Federal Party take account of Wales and the Welsh Party.
Current Vacancies:
- Representative to the Federal Council (1 vacancy)
- Representative to the Federal People Development Committee (1 vacancy)
Members of Party Appeals Panels
The Appeals Panels of both the Welsh and Federal Parties are there to adjudicate on disputes within the party that are not the responsibility of the party’s independent complaints process e.g. when a member of a local party believes that their rights under the party constitution have been infringed.
Current Vacancies:
- Member of the Welsh Appeals Panel (8 vacancies)
- Welsh Representative to the Federal Appeals Panel (1 vacancy)
Who can apply?
Any member of the Welsh Liberal Democrats can put their name forward for any of the vacancies, except for:
- The Local Government Representative on the Policy Development Committee - Only elected councillors sitting as Liberal Democrats are eligible to stand for the Local Government Representative on the Policy Development Committee.
- Members of Appeals Panels - Members of the Senedd or Parliemant, Prospective Senedd or Parliamentary Candidates, Members of the Welsh Board or the Campaigns and Communications Committee, nor employees of the Party may stand for either the Welsh or Federal Appeals Panels. Any other member may apply.
How do I apply?
You must first submit an application form then seek the support of other party members.
Step 1: Submit your application form
Application forms can be downloaded and should be returned by email, through the post or can be handed directly to the Party's Chief Executive or Party Coordinator at the 2024 Autumn Conference.
Download an Application Form (Microsoft Word)
Download an Application Form (PDF)
Application forms are in two parts:
- Section 1 asks for your personal and contact details. This information will be used to check that you are eligible to stand and will only be shared with the Returning Officer and party staff assisting with the administration of the election.
- Section 2 asks you about your relevant skills and experiences as well as what you wish to achieve if elected. This section should be considered in the same way as a job application form. If a vote is required it will be shared with members to help them decide between you and the other applicants. With that in mind, please don't include anything in your answers in this section that you wish not to be in the public domain.
The deadline for submitting your application form is midday on Sunday, 17th November 2024.
Step 2: Seek the support of other party members
You may need the support of other party members for your application to be accepted. The number of supporters required varies depending on the seniority of the role you're applying for:
- Applicants for the Executive Officer for Membership Development require the support of 30 members drawn from at least 5 local parties.
- Applicants for Treasurer or Diversity Officer do not need support for their application to be accepted.
- Applicants for Ordinary Committee Members and Representatives to Federal Party Committees require the support of any 5 members of the party.
- Applicants for Local Government Representative to the Policy Development Committee require the support of 5 Liberal Democrat councillors elected in Wales.
- Applicants for members of Appeals Panels do not need support for their application to be accepted.
Members can register their support for you either through our online portal at libdems.wales/internal-elections/support or on a paper form (which can be download in Word or pfd format) that can be returned through the post or handed directly to the Party's Chief Executive or Party Coordinator at the 2024 Autumn Conference.
You may ask members who you know and have contact details for to support your application by email, telephone or social media. However, you must not use mass communication methods (e.g. bulk emails) nor use data from party databases to get hold of contact details of other members.
Please remember that people employed by any part of the Liberal Democrats should not be asked to support your application. Staff must remain neutral during this process as they must work with whoever is elected.
The deadline for members to register their support for your appicatioin is midday on Sunday, 17th November 2024.
How do I show my support for an applicant?
If you wish to show your support for an applicant you can use our online portal, or download, print off, complete and return a paper form.
Before starting
You will need to know:
- The name of your local party - which is usually the name of the county or constituency you live in.
- Your membership number - which appears on your membership card.
- Your email address - preferably the email you receive emails from the party at.
- The name of the person whose application you are supporting - ideally the name they have given on their application form.
- The role which they are applying for - check with them as you don't want to register support for a role they haven't applied for.
If you need assistance with any of this please email elgan.morgan@libdems.wales.
Fill in the form
You can register your support for an applicant through our online portal or on a paper form that can be returned through the post or handed directly to the Party's Chief Executive or Party Coordinator at the 2024 Autumn Conference.
Online Portal
Download a form (Microsoft Word) for printing
Download a form (PDF) for printing
You may only support one applicant for each vacancy i.e. if there is only one vacancy then you may only support one applicant, if however there are three vacancies for a committee then you may support up to three people. Any subsequent registrations of support will be ignored.
You will need to use different forms for each regsitration of support. You cannot use the same form even if you are supporting someone for more than one position, or several people for the same role.
The deadline for registering your support for applicants is midday on Sunday, 17th November 2024.
What happens next?
When the deadline for applications pass we will inform members of who has applied and received the required level of support.
If the number of applicants exceeds the number of vacancies, or if an election is required by the constitution, a vote will take place. Otherwise applicants will be deemed elected.
If you have any questions or would like to raise any issues regarding the conduct of these elections please contact the Party Coordinator, Elgan Morgan, by emailing elgan.morgan@libdems.wales