← Aberdeenshire (all cycles) · 5 May 2022 cohort

Aberdeenshire 2022

Local elections held 5 May 2022.

19 ward races

70 seats

37 elected below the proportional quota

52.9% of seats below quota

How to read this page

Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share they'd need to clinch the seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.

Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the signed gap as points below quota (a negative number) — the editorial indictment. Above-quota results clear the bar and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.

If votes were counted by party

Across the 19 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 70 seats had been shared out in proportion to votes received (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented; negative are parties it under-represented.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Conservative Party	30,586	33.9%	26	37.1%	25	35.7%	+1
Scottish National Party	27,826	30.8%	21	30.0%	22	31.4%	-1
Liberal Democrats	13,269	14.7%	14	20.0%	10	14.3%	+4
Independent	11,967	13.3%	9	12.9%	9	12.9%	0
Labour Party	3,717	4.1%	0	0.0%	3	4.3%	-3
Green Party	1,815	2.0%	0	0.0%	1	1.4%	-1
Alba Party	775	0.9%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Scottish Family Party	227	0.3%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Independence for Scotland Party	36	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Scottish Libertarian Party	34	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	90,252	100.0%	70	100.0%	70	100.0%	0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share

Actual seats

Proportional seats

Council composition: what this election replaced

The 2022 cycle was an all-out election — every seat was contested. The two opencouncildata snapshots below show the council immediately after the 2022 election (current) and on the eve of it (2021), so you can see what the result replaced.

Current (2022)

Previous (2021)

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Troup · 3 seats · won at 7.7% · −17.3 pts below quota
Fraserburgh and District · 4 seats · won at 4.8% · −15.2 pts below quota
Peterhead South and Cruden · 3 seats · won at 12.2% · −12.8 pts below quota
East Garioch · 4 seats · won at 7.6% · −12.4 pts below quota
West Garioch · 3 seats · won at 12.7% · −12.3 pts below quota
Westhill and District · 4 seats · won at 10.6% · −9.4 pts below quota
Mearns · 4 seats · won at 10.7% · −9.3 pts below quota
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside · 4 seats · won at 11.3% · −8.7 pts below quota
Central Buchan · 4 seats · won at 13.0% · −7.0 pts below quota
Peterhead North and Rattray · 4 seats · won at 13.0% · −7.0 pts below quota
Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford · 4 seats · won at 13.9% · −6.1 pts below quota
North Kincardine · 4 seats · won at 14.6% · −5.4 pts below quota
Banff and District · 3 seats · won at 19.8% · −5.2 pts below quota
Mid Formartine · 4 seats · won at 14.9% · −5.1 pts below quota
Turriff and District · 4 seats · won at 15.3% · −4.7 pts below quota
Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside · 3 seats · won at 21.3% · −3.7 pts below quota
Ellon and District · 4 seats · won at 16.5% · −3.5 pts below quota
Banchory and Mid Deeside · 3 seats · won at 21.5% · −3.5 pts below quota
Inverurie and District · 4 seats · won at 17.0% · −3.0 pts below quota

Race results

Troup · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 7.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −17.3 pts Valid ballots 3,070

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Mark Findlater	Conservative Party	1,305	42.5%	+17.5 pts	Elected
2	Ross Alexander Cassie	Scottish National Party	1,144	37.3%	+12.3 pts	Elected
3	Ian James Bailey	Liberal Democrats	260	8.5%	—
4	Richard Menard	Conservative Party	236	7.7%	−17.3 pts	Elected
5	Simon Andrew Scott	Green Party	125	4.1%	—

Electorate 7,641 · Ballots cast 3,124 · Invalid 54 · EC ward code gss-S13002849 · Back to ward index

Fraserburgh and District · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 4.8% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −15.2 pts Valid ballots 4,703

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	James Adams	Conservative Party	1,526	32.4%	+12.4 pts	Elected
2	Doreen Mair	Independent	1,509	32.1%	+12.1 pts	Elected
3	Seamus Logan	Scottish National Party	941	20.0%	0.0 pts	Elected
4	Brian Topping	Alba Party	274	5.8%	—
5	Ann Bell	Liberal Democrats	228	4.8%	−15.2 pts	Elected
6	Paul Greenall	Independent	182	3.9%	—

Electorate 11,604 · Ballots cast 4,743 · Invalid 40 · EC ward code gss-S13002850 · Back to ward index

Peterhead South and Cruden · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 12.2% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −12.8 pts Valid ballots 3,395

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Stephen William Smith	Scottish National Party	1,578	46.5%	+21.5 pts	Elected
2	George Hall	Conservative Party	1,105	32.5%	+7.5 pts	Elected
3	Colin Alexander Simpson	Liberal Democrats	414	12.2%	−12.8 pts	Elected
4	Neil Johnstone	Conservative Party	298	8.8%	—

Electorate 9,135 · Ballots cast 3,454 · Invalid 59 · EC ward code gss-S13002853 · Back to ward index

East Garioch · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 7.6% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −12.4 pts Valid ballots 4,215

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Glen Reid	Scottish National Party	1,727	41.0%	+21.0 pts	Elected
2	Dominic Lonchay	Conservative Party	1,156	27.4%	+7.4 pts	Elected
3	Trevor Mason	Liberal Democrats	398	9.4%	−10.6 pts	Elected
4	Rosanna Dobbin	Labour Party	323	7.7%	—
5	Jim Gifford	Independent	321	7.6%	−12.4 pts	Elected
6	Drew Cullinane	Independent	290	6.9%	—

Electorate 10,414 · Ballots cast 4,239 · Invalid 24 · EC ward code gss-S13002859 · Back to ward index

West Garioch · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 12.7% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −12.3 pts Valid ballots 4,237

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Moray Charles Grant	Scottish National Party	1,247	29.4%	+4.4 pts	Elected
2	Sam Payne	Conservative Party	1,150	27.1%	+2.1 pts	Elected
3	Hazel Smith	Liberal Democrats	539	12.7%	−12.3 pts	Elected
4	Sheena Margaret Lonchay	Independent	451	10.6%	—
5	Sasha Brydon	Labour Party	324	7.6%	—
6	Sebastian Leslie	Independent	273	6.4%	—
7	Anne Mansfield	Green Party	182	4.3%	—
8	Elaine Mitchell	Alba Party	71	1.7%	—

Electorate 9,227 · Ballots cast 4,281 · Invalid 44 · EC ward code gss-S13002857 · Back to ward index

Westhill and District · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 10.6% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −9.4 pts Valid ballots 5,706

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Ron McKail	Conservative Party	1,655	29.0%	+9.0 pts	Elected
2	Iris Walker	Liberal Democrats	1,498	26.3%	+6.3 pts	Elected
3	Fatima Joji	Scottish National Party	1,430	25.1%	+5.1 pts	Elected
4	Craig Miller	Conservative Party	605	10.6%	−9.4 pts	Elected
5	Lesley Young	Labour Party	434	7.6%	—
6	Colin McKay	Alba Party	48	0.8%	—
7	Stephen William Cameron	Independence for Scotland Party	36	0.6%	—

Electorate 12,033 · Ballots cast 5,764 · Invalid 58 · EC ward code gss-S13002860 · Back to ward index

Mearns · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 10.7% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −9.3 pts Valid ballots 5,782

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Kevin Stelfox	Scottish National Party	1,677	29.0%	+9.0 pts	Elected
2	George Carr	Conservative Party	1,217	21.0%	+1.0 pts	Elected
3	Alison Evison	Independent	623	10.8%	−9.2 pts	Elected
4	Laurie Carnie	Conservative Party	619	10.7%	−9.3 pts	Elected
5	Dave Stewart	Independent	513	8.9%	—
6	Shona Ewen	Liberal Democrats	377	6.5%	—
7	Yvonne Allan	Labour Party	336	5.8%	—
8	Douglas Fraser	Green Party	194	3.4%	—
9	Leigh Wilson	Alba Party	99	1.7%	—
10	David Allen Neill	Independent	75	1.3%	—
11	Diane Elizabeth Laurenson	Scottish Family Party	52	0.9%	—

Electorate 12,244 · Ballots cast 5,839 · Invalid 57 · EC ward code gss-S13002866 · Back to ward index

Stonehaven and Lower Deeside · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 11.3% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −8.7 pts Valid ballots 5,559

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Sarah Dickinson	Liberal Democrats	1,263	22.7%	+2.7 pts	Elected
2	Wendy Agnew	Conservative Party	1,147	20.6%	+0.6 pts	Elected
3	Dawn Black	Scottish National Party	951	17.1%	−2.9 pts	Elected
4	Alan Turner	Conservative Party	630	11.3%	−8.7 pts	Elected
5	Dennis Robertson	Scottish National Party	550	9.9%	—
6	Ma Simpson	Independent	462	8.3%	—
7	Raymond James Christie	Labour Party	383	6.9%	—
8	Rachel Shanks	Green Party	173	3.1%	—

Electorate 11,356 · Ballots cast 5,645 · Invalid 86 · EC ward code gss-S13002865 · Back to ward index

Central Buchan · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 13.0% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −7.0 pts Valid ballots 4,657

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Hannah Powell	Conservative Party	871	18.7%	−1.3 pts	Elected
2	David Mair	Scottish National Party	744	16.0%	−4.0 pts	Elected
3	Geoff Crowson	Scottish National Party	705	15.1%	−4.9 pts	Elected
4	Steve Owen	Conservative Party	679	14.6%	—
5	Anne Margaret Simpson	Liberal Democrats	607	13.0%	−7.0 pts	Elected
6	Norman Smith	Independent	527	11.3%	—
7	Arif Mahmood	Labour Party	213	4.6%	—
8	Jamie Cole-Hamilton	Green Party	135	2.9%	—
9	Charlotte Diana Cross	Alba Party	111	2.4%	—
10	Joanna Moore	Scottish Family Party	65	1.4%	—

Electorate 11,170 · Ballots cast 4,742 · Invalid 85 · EC ward code gss-S13002851 · Back to ward index

Peterhead North and Rattray · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 13.0% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −7.0 pts Valid ballots 4,200

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Leeann McWhinnie	Scottish National Party	1,222	29.1%	+9.1 pts	Elected
2	Dianne Beagrie	Independent	974	23.2%	+3.2 pts	Elected
3	Matthew James	Conservative Party	599	14.3%	−5.7 pts	Elected
4	Alan S Buchan	Independent	548	13.0%	−7.0 pts	Elected
5	Iain Sutherland	Conservative Party	523	12.5%	—
6	Kevin Robert Anderson	Liberal Democrats	156	3.7%	—
7	Trish McPherson	Alba Party	99	2.4%	—
8	Sharon Bradford	Independent	79	1.9%	—

Electorate 11,821 · Ballots cast 4,268 · Invalid 68 · EC ward code gss-S13002852 · Back to ward index

Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 13.9% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −6.1 pts Valid ballots 5,635

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Gwyneth Elaine Petrie	Scottish National Party	1,945	34.5%	+14.5 pts	Elected
2	Lauren Knight	Conservative Party	1,491	26.5%	+6.5 pts	Elected
3	Robbie Withey	Conservative Party	788	14.0%	−6.0 pts	Elected
4	Jeff Goodhall	Liberal Democrats	784	13.9%	−6.1 pts	Elected
5	Bryan Scott Begg	Labour Party	441	7.8%	—
6	Rosie Leagas	Independent	152	2.7%	—
7	Stuart Whitby	Scottish Libertarian Party	34	0.6%	—

Electorate 12,148 · Ballots cast 5,714 · Invalid 79 · EC ward code gss-S13002861 · Back to ward index

North Kincardine · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.6% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −5.4 pts Valid ballots 5,477

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	David Aitchison	Scottish National Party	1,182	21.6%	+1.6 pts	Elected
2	Shirley Burnett	Conservative Party	855	15.6%	−4.4 pts	Elected
3	Mel Sullivan	Liberal Democrats	850	15.5%	−4.5 pts	Elected
4	Catherine Mary Victor	Scottish National Party	799	14.6%	−5.4 pts	Elected
5	Jeff Hutchison	Conservative Party	620	11.3%	—
6	Colin Pike	Independent	527	9.6%	—
7	Louise Claire Ross	Green Party	314	5.7%	—
8	Alastair Bews	Independent	255	4.7%	—
9	Elizabeth Wilson Leslie	Scottish Family Party	75	1.4%	—

Electorate 12,478 · Ballots cast 5,557 · Invalid 80 · EC ward code gss-S13002864 · Back to ward index

Banff and District · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.8% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −5.2 pts Valid ballots 3,968

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Glen David Reynolds	Scottish National Party	1,265	31.9%	+6.9 pts	Elected
2	Stewart Adams	Conservative Party	1,103	27.8%	+2.8 pts	Elected
3	John Cox	Independent	787	19.8%	−5.2 pts	Elected
4	Mike Roy	Independent	285	7.2%	—
5	James Andrew Low	Labour Party	200	5.0%	—
6	Sandy Leslie	Liberal Democrats	150	3.8%	—
7	Neil Woodward	Green Party	105	2.6%	—
8	Iain Ronald McLachlan Cameron	Alba Party	73	1.8%	—

Electorate 9,185 · Ballots cast 4,002 · Invalid 34 · EC ward code gss-S13002848 · Back to ward index

Mid Formartine · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.9% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −5.1 pts Valid ballots 5,046

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Jenny Nicol	Scottish National Party	971	19.2%	−0.8 pts	Elected
2	Paul Johnston	Independent	916	18.2%	−1.8 pts	Elected
3	Derek Ritchie	Conservative Party	876	17.4%	−2.6 pts	Elected
4	Sheila Powell	Conservative Party	803	15.9%	—
5	Andrew John Hassan	Liberal Democrats	752	14.9%	−5.1 pts	Elected
6	Kenny Hutchison	Scottish National Party	728	14.4%	—

Electorate 11,612 · Ballots cast 5,131 · Invalid 85 · EC ward code gss-S13002855 · Back to ward index

Turriff and District · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 15.3% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −4.7 pts Valid ballots 4,515

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Iain Taylor	Conservative Party	1,075	23.8%	+3.8 pts	Elected
2	Anne Stirling	Liberal Democrats	1,059	23.5%	+3.5 pts	Elected
3	Alastair Forsyth	Scottish National Party	792	17.5%	−2.5 pts	Elected
4	Susan DuBois	Scottish National Party	740	16.4%	—
5	Gordon Lang	Conservative Party	690	15.3%	−4.7 pts	Elected
6	Kathryn Louise Vincent	Green Party	159	3.5%	—

Electorate 10,429 · Ballots cast 4,620 · Invalid 105 · EC ward code gss-S13002854 · Back to ward index

Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.3% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −3.7 pts Valid ballots 4,841

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Geva Blackett	Independent	1,098	22.7%	−2.3 pts	Elected
2	Anouk Kloppert	Scottish National Party	1,049	21.7%	−3.3 pts	Elected
3	Sarah Brown	Conservative Party	1,029	21.3%	−3.7 pts	Elected
4	Peter Argyle	Liberal Democrats	846	17.5%	—
5	Claudia Leith	Conservative Party	640	13.2%	—
6	John Lawson	Labour Party	179	3.7%	—

Electorate 9,066 · Ballots cast 4,881 · Invalid 40 · EC ward code gss-S13002862 · Back to ward index

Ellon and District · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 16.5% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −3.5 pts Valid ballots 5,488

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Isobel Davidson	Liberal Democrats	1,205	22.0%	+2.0 pts	Elected
2	Louise McAllister	Scottish National Party	1,139	20.8%	+0.8 pts	Elected
3	John Crawley	Conservative Party	1,050	19.1%	−0.9 pts	Elected
4	Gillian Owen	Conservative Party	906	16.5%	−3.5 pts	Elected
5	Josh Gall	Scottish National Party	599	10.9%	—
6	Mark Lappin	Labour Party	348	6.3%	—
7	Craig Stewart	Green Party	241	4.4%	—

Electorate 11,837 · Ballots cast 5,564 · Invalid 76 · EC ward code gss-S13002856 · Back to ward index

Banchory and Mid Deeside · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.5% Proportional quota 25.0% Below quota −3.5 pts Valid ballots 4,832

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Ann Ross	Conservative Party	1,211	25.1%	+0.1 pts	Elected
2	Eileen Durno	Scottish National Party	1,158	24.0%	−1.0 pts	Elected
3	Yi-Pei Chou Turvey	Liberal Democrats	1,040	21.5%	−3.5 pts	Elected
4	Harriet Cross	Conservative Party	852	17.6%	—
5	Andy Brown	Labour Party	536	11.1%	—
6	Graeme Craib	Scottish Family Party	35	0.7%	—

Electorate 9,105 · Ballots cast 4,870 · Invalid 38 · EC ward code gss-S13002863 · Back to ward index

Inverurie and District · 4-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 17.0% Proportional quota 20.0% Below quota −3.0 pts Valid ballots 4,969

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	David Keating	Conservative Party	1,276	25.7%	+5.7 pts	Elected
2	Neill Baillie	Scottish National Party	1,200	24.1%	+4.1 pts	Elected
3	Judy Margaret Whyte	Independent	1,120	22.5%	+2.5 pts	Elected
4	Marion Ewenson	Liberal Democrats	843	17.0%	−3.0 pts	Elected
5	Archie Peebles	Scottish National Party	343	6.9%	—
6	Denise May Rothnie	Green Party	187	3.8%	—

Electorate 12,128 · Ballots cast 5,052 · Invalid 83 · EC ward code gss-S13002858 · Back to ward index