Will Dafydd Iwan or Cynog Dafis become party president?

Party members had until 1230 BST to cast their vote to decide who takes over the two key roles - the presidential post, and leader of the party in the Welsh assembly.

Former AM and MP Cynog Dafis is trying for the presidency, as is current party vice-president and folk singer Dafydd Iwan while Ieuan Wyn Jones is keen to keep hold of the assembly leadership post with competition from AMs Helen Mary Jones and Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

But Plaid - due to announce the successful candidates at 1730 BST - has confirmed that of members who have been in touch with the party's central office on Monday morning, 24 had not received voting papers from local branches.

Chief Executive Dafydd Trystan said the numbers involved were only a small percentage of the total votes cast, and as such were unlikely to have an effect on the results.

But he was unable to confirm exactly how many members had been affected throughout Wales.

The search for candidates began after May's assembly elections when Ieuan Wyn Jones announced he would be stepping down from both roles.

The successful candidates will be in place in time for the party's annual conference, which starts at St David's Hall in Cardiff on 18 September.

Ieuan Wyn Jones decided to resign after Plaid lost five of its 17 seats in the assembly elections - and being told he had lost the confidence of half the Plaid Cymru AMs.

PRESIDENCY CANDIDATES

1) CYNOG DAFIS

Hails from: Born in 1938 in Treboeth, Swansea

Current role: Plaid Director of Policy

Previous roles: MP for Ceredigion and Pembroke North 1992-1997, MP for Ceredigion 1997-2000, AM for mid and west Wales 1999-2003

Best moment: Winning three special awards for Parliamentary work on the environment and sustainable development

Worst moment: Predicting that Plaid would take seats off Labour in the 2003 election - shortly before Plaid lost five of their existing 12 seats

Odds: 6-5 (from Jack Brown)

2) DAFYDD IWAN

Hails from: Born in Brynaman, Carmarthenshire, in 1943

Current role: Plaid vice-president

Previous roles: Plaid parliamentary candidate for Anglesey in 1974 and Conwy in the early 80s, and north Wales Euro candidate in 1983

Best moment: Being favourite to become Plaid president in 2003

Worst moment: Being caught up in a media storm after a speech about incomers to Wales

Odds: 8-13

WELSH ASSEMBLY LEADER CANDIDATES

Ieuan Wyn Jones could continue leading Plaid in the Welsh assembly

1) IEUAN WYN JONES

Hails from: Born in 1949 in Denbigh

Current role: Anglesey AM, Plaid president and assembly group leader

Previous roles: Anglesey MP, Campaign Director for 1999 election

Best moment: Succeeding Dafydd Wigley as Plaid Cymru president in 2000

Worst moment: The 2003 Welsh assembly election in which Plaid lost five of their 12 assembly seats - he announced his resignation as president and assembly group leader just days later

Odds: 5-4

2) HELEN MARY JONES

Hails from: Born in Colchester in 1960

Current role: AM for mid and west Wales

Previous roles: Llanelli AM, shadow minister for Education and Lifelong Education

Best moment: Winning the Llanelli constituency for Plaid Cymru in the 1999 assembly election

Worst moment: Losing her Llanelli seat in the 2003 Welsh assembly election back to Labour by just 21 votes, then being accused of leading a "plot" to oust Ieuan Wyn Jones

Odds: 4-6

3) RHODRI GLYN THOMAS

Hails from: Born in Wrexham in 1953

Current role: AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

Previous roles: MP candidate for Carmarthen (1992) and Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (1997)

Best moment: Finally securing a seat at the assembly in 1999 after losing out in previous elections

Worst moment: A high-profile U-turn when he voiced support for Christine Gwyther's position as Agriculture Secretary after being a leading critic

Odds: 8-1