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| Hundreds chase an assembly seat | Hundreds chase an assembly seat |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nominations have closed for candidates to put themselves forward for election to the Welsh assembly. | Nominations have closed for candidates to put themselves forward for election to the Welsh assembly. |
| When the final total is known, more than 250 people are expected to be in the running for the 60 seats on 3 May. | When the final total is known, more than 250 people are expected to be in the running for the 60 seats on 3 May. |
| The four main parties - Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Liberal Democrat - will contest all 40 constituencies, and have candidates on the five regional lists as well. | The four main parties - Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Liberal Democrat - will contest all 40 constituencies, and have candidates on the five regional lists as well. |
| Independents and at least eight other parties will also put up candidates. | Independents and at least eight other parties will also put up candidates. |
| Although nominations have closed for the third election since the assembly was set up in 1999, the full list may not be available for several days. | |
| Some local authorities have released the names of the candidates, but they do not have to publish them until Wednesday, 11 April. | Some local authorities have released the names of the candidates, but they do not have to publish them until Wednesday, 11 April. |
| However, voters can ask their local council to show them a list of names. Candidates are still able to withdraw over the next few days. | However, voters can ask their local council to show them a list of names. Candidates are still able to withdraw over the next few days. |
| HOW ASSEMBLY VOTING WORKS Assembly elections are held on a fixed four-year basisThere are 60 AMs, 40 from constituency seats and 20 from regional listsCandidates in 40 constituencies are elected by the traditional first-past-the-post systemThere are four AMs in each of the five regions of Wales: north, mid and west, south west, south central and south eastThe 20 regional AMs are elected by proportional representation from party listsThe better a party does in constituencies in one region, the harder it is to win seats on the regional list in that area | HOW ASSEMBLY VOTING WORKS Assembly elections are held on a fixed four-year basisThere are 60 AMs, 40 from constituency seats and 20 from regional listsCandidates in 40 constituencies are elected by the traditional first-past-the-post systemThere are four AMs in each of the five regions of Wales: north, mid and west, south west, south central and south eastThe 20 regional AMs are elected by proportional representation from party listsThe better a party does in constituencies in one region, the harder it is to win seats on the regional list in that area |
| As nominations closed, it emerged that leading Conservative Party figures have failed in their attempt to persuade one of their assembly candidates to stand aside. | As nominations closed, it emerged that leading Conservative Party figures have failed in their attempt to persuade one of their assembly candidates to stand aside. |
| The returning officer for the south Wales west region has confirmed that Chris Smart has been nominated as the second candidate on the Conservative list. | The returning officer for the south Wales west region has confirmed that Chris Smart has been nominated as the second candidate on the Conservative list. |
| BBC Wales understands that senior members of party leader David Cameron's shadow cabinet were involved in attempts to persuade Mr Smart to withdraw. | BBC Wales understands that senior members of party leader David Cameron's shadow cabinet were involved in attempts to persuade Mr Smart to withdraw. |
| It followed the distribution of an anonymous leaflet making inaccurate accusations about Mr Smart's past conduct. | It followed the distribution of an anonymous leaflet making inaccurate accusations about Mr Smart's past conduct. |
| Meanwhile, the Welsh assembly and English council elections will be the first in which 18-year-olds will be able to stand as candidates. | Meanwhile, the Welsh assembly and English council elections will be the first in which 18-year-olds will be able to stand as candidates. |
| Until the law was changed last year, candidates had to be over 21. | Until the law was changed last year, candidates had to be over 21. |
| Among the youngest assembly candidates is Craig Williams, who is 21 and is standing for the Conservatives in Cardiff West. |