The counting for the Senedd Cymru election's Ceredigion constituency, along with the regional list for Mid Wales and West Wales, is now under way.

Polls opened at 7am on Thursday and closed at 10pm in the first election since the legislature was renamed from the National Assembly of Wales.

"This year's election is different to any other, and we are working in line with Covid-19 guidelines," said a spokesperson for Ceredigion Council.

"The ballot boxes and the postal votes are in and election staff are busy verifying the papers for the Senedd Cymru Ceredigion constituency, the Mid and West Wales region and the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Dyfed-Powys area.

"The Police and Crime Commissioner Ballot papers will then be re-sealed until they are counted on Sunday, May 9."

The seven candidates in Ceredigion constituency are Cadan ap Tomos - Liberal Democrats; Stephanie Evans - Freedom Alliance – Integrity, Society, Economy; Harry Hayfield - Green Party; Gethin James - Reform UK; Amanda Jenner - Conservatives; Elin Jones - Plaid Cymru; Dylan Lewis-Rowlands - Labour.

Elin Jones has been MS for Ceredigion since 1999 and her majority in the last election was 8.2%, up from 6.1% the election before. With the exception of 1999, the Liberal Democrats have come second in every Senedd election.

We will also be keeping you updated on the results of the constituencies of Preseli Pembrokeshire and Candidates Carmarthen East and Dinefwr.

The five candidates in the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency in the Senedd Cymru Elections are Paul Davies - Conservative and Unionist Party; William Alan Dennison - Reform UK; Jackie Jones - Labour Party; Tin Roberts - Liberal Democrats; Cris Thomas - Plaid Cymru.

Paul Davies has been MS for Preseli Pembrokeshire since 2007. Until January 2021,he was Conservative leader but resigned after an incident involving drinking alcohol in the Senedd came to light. Labour are the nearest challengers with the 2016 candidate coming 13.6% of the vote behind Mr Davies.

The five candidates in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency in the Senedd Cymru Elections are Monica Mary French - Liberal Democrats; Havard Hughes - Conservative and Unionist Party; Rob James - Labour Party; Karl Pollard - Reform UK; Adam Price - Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price is the current MS for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr. In 2016, he secured 48.5% of the vote. It is seen as a safe seat for Plaid Cymru.

It has meanwhile been confirmed that the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Election Count will take place on Sunday, 9 May, following the election on Thursday.

The swearing of the oath will also take place on Sunday, and the elected Police and Crime Commissioner's new term in office will start on 13 May.

"The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Declaration of Acceptance of Office) Order prescribes the form of words that the elected Police and Crime Commissioners will be required to declare before they take office," said a PCC spokesperson.

"The term of a person elected as a PCC at an ordinary election begins on the seventh (calendar) day after the day of the poll, and ends with the sixth (calendar) day following the subsequent poll.

"The term for incumbent PCCs should cease on May 12, and the newly or re-elected PCC will commence in office on May 13.

The Dyfed-Powys candidates were Jon Burns (Conservative); Dafydd Llywelyn (Plaid Cymru); Philippa Thompson (Labour) and Glyn Preston (Welsh Liberal Democrats).

The Tivyside will bring you all the results from the local counts.

Our sister paper The National is covering all the counts across all the constituencies - and you can follow their live coverage here: https://www.thenational.wales/news/19285529.senedd-election-2021-live-results-across-wales/