← Colchester (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

Colchester 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

17 ward races
17 seats
5 elected below the proportional quota
29.4% 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 that would be needed to be guaranteed that 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 gap as points under par — the editorial indictment. Above-par results are just majority mandates 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 17 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 17 seats had been allocated to those vote totals in proportion (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 in this council, negative are parties it under-represented.

PartyVotesVote %Seats won% of seatsProportional seatsProportional %Δ
Conservative and Unionist Party13,21630.5%635.3%635.3%0
Liberal Democrats13,11630.3%635.3%529.4%+1
Labour Party10,61024.5%423.5%423.5%0
Green Party4,41210.2%15.9%211.8%-1
Independent1,3683.2%00.0%00.0%0
Reform UK5681.3%00.0%00.0%0
Total43,290100.0%17100.0%17100.0%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

Wards in this council

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

Race results

Shrub End · single-seat

Marginal winner 39.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +10.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,127

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1McCarthy, S.Liberal Democrats83539.3%Elected
2Hayes, L.Labour Party72033.9%
3Linghorn-Baker, A.Conservative and Unionist Party45521.4%
4Dodd, S.Green Party1175.5%

Electorate 8,182 · Ballots cast 2,127 · Back to ward index

Mersea & Pyefleet · single-seat

Marginal winner 40.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +9.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,102

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Powling, C.Conservative and Unionist Party1,24440.1%Elected
2Akker, J.Independent99432.0%
3Hayton, W.Labour Party3069.9%
4Knight, J.Liberal Democrats2026.5%
5Holt, S.Reform UK1936.2%
6Kirkby-Taylor, R.Green Party1635.3%

Electorate 7,980 · Ballots cast 3,102 · Back to ward index

New Town & Christ Church · single-seat

Marginal winner 41.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.1 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,105

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1McLean, S.Labour Party1,30141.9%Elected
2Spindler, C.Liberal Democrats99031.9%
3Piggott, C.Conservative and Unionist Party39912.9%
4Partridge, I.Independent2086.7%
5Brannan, R.Green Party2076.7%

Electorate 9,641 · Ballots cast 3,105 · Back to ward index

Prettygate · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +8.0 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,098

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Tate, L.Conservative and Unionist Party1,30142.0%Elected
2Loxley, J.Liberal Democrats1,27941.3%
3Bourne, R.Labour Party36611.8%
4Edgoose, N.Green Party1524.9%

Electorate 7,768 · Ballots cast 3,098 · Back to ward index

Highwoods · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +3.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,211

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Jay, A.Liberal Democrats1,02946.5%Elected
2Bacon, P.Labour Party72232.7%
3Linghorn-Baker, D.Conservative and Unionist Party37517.0%
4Meadows, R.Green Party853.8%

Electorate 7,327 · Ballots cast 2,211 · Back to ward index

Castle · single-seat

Marginal winner 50.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −0.4 pts Valid ballots 2,727

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Goacher, M.Green Party1,37450.4%Elected
2Crow, S.Conservative and Unionist Party65524.0%
3Jasper, C.Labour Party49218.0%
4Gillingham, M.Liberal Democrats2067.6%

Electorate 8,163 · Ballots cast 2,727 · Back to ward index

St Anne's & St John's · single-seat

Marginal winner 53.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −3.6 pts Valid ballots 2,558

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Sommers, N.Liberal Democrats1,37053.6%Elected
2Knight, R.Conservative and Unionist Party68126.6%
3Chambers, A.Labour Party34613.5%
4Dwyer, S.Green Party1616.3%

Electorate 8,098 · Ballots cast 2,558 · Back to ward index

Tiptree · single-seat

Marginal winner 54.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −4.5 pts Valid ballots 2,440

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Dundas, P.Conservative and Unionist Party1,32954.5%Elected
2Holford, E.Labour Party41917.2%
3Stevens, J.Liberal Democrats26010.7%
4Burgess, C.Green Party2229.1%
5Girling, A.Reform UK2108.6%

Electorate 7,440 · Ballots cast 2,440 · Back to ward index

Marks Tey & Layer · single-seat

Marginal winner 54.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −4.8 pts Valid ballots 2,399

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Ellis, A.Conservative and Unionist Party1,31454.8%Elected
2Spademan, J.Labour Party51721.6%
3De-Col, L.Liberal Democrats28511.9%
4Sheridan, J.Green Party28311.8%

Electorate 8,195 · Ballots cast 2,399 · Back to ward index

Rural North · single-seat

Marginal winner 55.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −5.9 pts Valid ballots 2,909

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Rowe, T.Conservative and Unionist Party1,62555.9%Elected
2Maxwell, K.Liberal Democrats48116.5%
3Nichols, B.Labour Party40513.9%
4Burgess, J.Green Party39813.7%

Electorate 8,462 · Ballots cast 2,909 · Back to ward index

Lexden & Braiswick · single-seat

Marginal winner 58.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −8.1 pts Valid ballots 2,699

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Barber, L.Conservative and Unionist Party1,56958.1%Elected
2Stevenson, T.Liberal Democrats49218.2%
3Bruce, S.Labour Party38014.1%
4Bamforth, R.Green Party2589.6%

Electorate 7,328 · Ballots cast 2,699 · Back to ward index

Stanway · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.0 pts Valid ballots 2,330

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Scott-Boutell, L.Liberal Democrats1,37559.0%Elected
2Seabrook, J.Conservative and Unionist Party69830.0%
3Yates, I.Labour Party1807.7%
4Nelson, P.Green Party773.3%

Electorate 6,984 · Ballots cast 2,330 · Back to ward index

Old Heath & The Hythe · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.3 pts Valid ballots 2,331

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Smalls, F.Labour Party1,38359.3%Elected
2Martin, R.Conservative and Unionist Party36615.7%
3Boughton, S.Liberal Democrats23510.1%
4Canessa, A.Green Party1817.8%
5Drew, J.Independent1667.1%

Electorate 8,697 · Ballots cast 2,331 · Back to ward index

Greenstead · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.3 pts Valid ballots 1,901

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Young, T.Labour Party1,12859.3%Elected
2Crees, D.Conservative and Unionist Party35618.7%
3Whyborn, C.Liberal Democrats19910.5%
4Cross, L.Green Party1246.5%
5Blair, K.Reform UK944.9%

Electorate 11,195 · Ballots cast 1,901 · Back to ward index

Mile End · single-seat

Marginal winner 61.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −11.2 pts Valid ballots 2,655

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Moffat, V.Liberal Democrats1,62461.2%Elected
2Butcher, P.Conservative and Unionist Party43516.4%
3Pey, J.Labour Party35213.3%
4Kirke, A.Green Party2449.2%

Electorate 9,613 · Ballots cast 2,655 · Back to ward index

Berechurch · single-seat

Marginal winner 66.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −16.1 pts Valid ballots 1,867

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Pearson, C.Labour Party1,23466.1%Elected
2Anbouche, A.Conservative and Unionist Party29215.6%
3Collis, S.Liberal Democrats1719.2%
4Clifton, J.Green Party995.3%
5Baker, D.Reform UK713.8%

Electorate 7,347 · Ballots cast 1,867 · Back to ward index

Wivenhoe · single-seat

Marginal winner 73.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −23.6 pts Valid ballots 2,831

RankCandidatePartyVotesShareElected
1Cory, M.Liberal Democrats2,08373.6%Elected
2Lowe, H.Labour Party35912.7%
3Wheatley, J.Green Party2679.4%
4Higginson, A.Conservative and Unionist Party1224.3%

Electorate 7,341 · Ballots cast 2,831 · Back to ward index