← North Devon (all cycles) · 4 May 2023 cohort

North Devon 2023

Local elections held 4 May 2023.

24 ward races

41 seats

29 elected below the proportional quota

70.7% 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 24 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 41 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.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Liberal Democrats	16,928	39.2%	21	51.2%	16	39.0%	+5
Independent	8,731	20.2%	10	24.4%	8	19.5%	+2
Conservative and Unionist Party	8,041	18.6%	7	17.1%	8	19.5%	-1
Green Party	6,508	15.1%	3	7.3%	6	14.6%	-3
Labour Party	3,003	6.9%	0	0.0%	3	7.3%	-3
CPB	15	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	43,226	100.0%	41	100.0%	41	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

Wards in this council

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

Instow · 1 seat · won at 30.3% · +19.7 pts below quota
Braunton West & Georgeham · 2 seats · won at 19.8% · +13.6 pts below quota
Ilfracombe West · 2 seats · won at 21.9% · +11.4 pts below quota
Fremington · 2 seats · won at 22.6% · +10.7 pts below quota
South Molton · 3 seats · won at 14.6% · +10.4 pts below quota
Landkey · 2 seats · won at 23.8% · +9.5 pts below quota
Braunton East · 2 seats · won at 24.5% · +8.9 pts below quota
Barnstaple with Pilton · 3 seats · won at 18.4% · +6.6 pts below quota
Roundswell · 2 seats · won at 27.1% · +6.2 pts below quota
Newport · 2 seats · won at 28.0% · +5.4 pts below quota
Barnstaple with Westacott · 3 seats · won at 20.4% · +4.6 pts below quota
Ilfracombe East · 3 seats · won at 20.5% · +4.5 pts below quota
Bickington · 3 seats · won at 20.6% · +4.4 pts below quota
Chittlehampton · 1 seat · won at 47.1% · +2.9 pts below quota
Combe Martin · 1 seat · won at 52.0% · above quota
Barnstaple Central · 1 seat · won at 53.5% · above quota
Lynton & Lynmouth · 1 seat · won at 56.3% · above quota
Mortehoe · 1 seat · won at 56.5% · above quota
North Molton · 1 seat · won at 59.3% · above quota
Heanton Punchardon · 1 seat · won at 59.4% · above quota
Bratton Fleming · 1 seat · won at 62.2% · above quota
Chulmleigh · 1 seat · won at 63.5% · above quota
Witheridge · 1 seat · won at 63.9% · above quota
Bishop's Nympton · 1 seat · won at 68.7% · above quota

Race results

Instow · single-seat

Marginal winner 30.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +19.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 717

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Renshaw, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	217	30.3%	Elected
2	Coombs, B.	Independent	188	26.2%
3	Bell, J.	Independent	114	15.9%
4	Herbert, E.	Green Party	103	14.4%
5	O'Brien, B.	Labour Party	66	9.2%
6	Arthur, N.	Independent	29	4.0%

Electorate 1,879 · Ballots cast 717 · Back to ward index

Braunton West & Georgeham · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 19.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +13.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,700

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Maddocks, S.	Independent	659	24.4%	Elected
2	Maskell, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	534	19.8%	Elected
3	Clarkson, T.	Liberal Democrats	371	13.7%
4	Cox, J.	Liberal Democrats	342	12.7%
5	Cann, M.	Labour Party	290	10.7%
6	Chesters, J.	Independent	260	9.6%
7	Parker, B.	Green Party	244	9.0%

Electorate 3,762 · Ballots cast 2,700 · Back to ward index

Ilfracombe West · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 21.9% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +11.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,973

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Wilson, S.	Green Party	524	26.6%	Elected
2	Quinn, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	432	21.9%	Elected
3	Fay, M.	Conservative and Unionist Party	365	18.5%
4	Ebert, T.	Labour Party	337	17.1%
5	Baxter, D.	Liberal Democrats	315	16.0%

Electorate 3,498 · Ballots cast 1,973 · Back to ward index

Fremington · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 22.6% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +10.7 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,116

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Biederman, F.	Independent	1,223	39.2%	Elected
2	Denton, N.	Independent	705	22.6%	Elected
3	Bell, J.	Independent	473	15.2%
4	Harris, B.	Independent	233	7.5%
5	Juby, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	207	6.6%
6	McLynn, D.	Labour Party	147	4.7%
7	York, K.	Liberal Democrats	128	4.1%

Electorate 4,353 · Ballots cast 3,116 · Back to ward index

South Molton · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 14.6% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +10.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,936

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Worden, D.	Liberal Democrats	916	23.3%	Elected
2	Bishop, P.	Liberal Democrats	600	15.2%	Elected
3	Bushell, M.	Independent	573	14.6%	Elected
4	Henderson, P.	Independent	438	11.1%
5	Burnham, V.	Conservative and Unionist Party	337	8.6%
6	Hinchcliffe, S.	Labour Party	289	7.3%
7	Vukic, N.	Conservative and Unionist Party	281	7.1%
8	Saunders, G.	Green Party	257	6.5%
9	Cornelius, M.	Independent	245	6.2%

Electorate 4,894 · Ballots cast 3,936 · Back to ward index

Landkey · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 23.8% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +9.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 1,904

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Lane, G.	Independent	498	26.2%	Elected
2	Haworth-Booth, M.	Green Party	454	23.8%	Elected
3	Nel, V.	Liberal Democrats	443	23.3%
4	Janeiro, R.	Liberal Democrats	238	12.5%
5	Redwood, L.	Green Party	196	10.3%
6	Higgs, T.	Labour Party	75	3.9%

Electorate 3,404 · Ballots cast 1,904 · Back to ward index

Braunton East · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 24.5% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +8.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,625

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Spear, L.	Liberal Democrats	664	25.3%	Elected
2	Bell, G.	Liberal Democrats	642	24.5%	Elected
3	Relph, D.	Green Party	483	18.4%
4	Lay, C.	Green Party	390	14.9%
5	Bryant, A.	Independent	272	10.4%
6	Agnew, N.	Labour Party	174	6.6%

Electorate 3,849 · Ballots cast 2,625 · Back to ward index

Barnstaple with Pilton · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 18.4% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +6.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 4,159

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Roome, I.	Liberal Democrats	1,037	24.9%	Elected
2	Lovering, M.	Liberal Democrats	845	20.3%	Elected
3	Orange, J.	Liberal Democrats	766	18.4%	Elected
4	Mack, R.	Green Party	344	8.3%
5	Goodger, L.	Green Party	333	8.0%
6	Knight, L.	Green Party	328	7.9%
7	McKever, F.	Conservative and Unionist Party	300	7.2%
8	O'Neill, F.	Labour Party	206	5.0%

Electorate 6,016 · Ballots cast 4,159 · Back to ward index

Roundswell · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 27.1% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +6.2 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,176

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Knight, D.	Liberal Democrats	656	30.1%	Elected
2	Norman, C.	Liberal Democrats	590	27.1%	Elected
3	Burridge, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	323	14.8%
4	Randall, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	270	12.4%
5	Rennles, A.	Independent	239	11.0%
6	Crawford, A.	Labour Party	98	4.5%

Electorate 3,197 · Ballots cast 2,176 · Back to ward index

Newport · 2-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 28.0% Proportional quota 33.3% Difference +5.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 2,339

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Leaver, C.	Liberal Democrats	798	34.1%	Elected
2	York, L.	Liberal Democrats	654	28.0%	Elected
3	Hoare, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	352	15.0%
4	Chamings, M.	Green Party	245	10.5%
5	Haworth-Booth, R.	Green Party	150	6.4%
6	Stringer, A.	Labour Party	140	6.0%

Electorate 4,005 · Ballots cast 2,339 · Back to ward index

Barnstaple with Westacott · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 20.4% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +4.6 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,378

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Leaver, P.	Liberal Democrats	712	21.1%	Elected
2	Clayton, D.	Liberal Democrats	705	20.9%	Elected
3	Stevenson, K.	Liberal Democrats	690	20.4%	Elected
4	Mackenzie, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	401	11.9%
5	White, S.	Green Party	263	7.8%
6	Carter, J.	Independent	206	6.1%
7	Monk, V.	Independent	205	6.1%
8	Marini, H.	Labour Party	196	5.8%

Electorate 5,621 · Ballots cast 3,378 · Back to ward index

Ilfracombe East · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 20.5% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +4.5 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,282

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Williams, J.	Liberal Democrats	718	21.9%	Elected
2	Crabb, P.	Conservative and Unionist Party	674	20.5%	Elected
3	Turton, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	673	20.5%	Elected
4	Elliott, T.	Labour Party	645	19.7%
5	Mack, L.	Green Party	572	17.4%

Electorate 5,178 · Ballots cast 3,282 · Back to ward index

Bickington · 3-seat (bloc vote)

Marginal winner 20.6% Proportional quota 25.0% Difference +4.4 pts below quota Valid ballots 3,591

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Cann, J.	Liberal Democrats	810	22.6%	Elected
2	Topps, W.	Liberal Democrats	778	21.7%	Elected
3	Walker, H.	Liberal Democrats	741	20.6%	Elected
4	Beglin, G.	Conservative and Unionist Party	460	12.8%
5	Hopkins, C.	Conservative and Unionist Party	441	12.3%
6	Basil, C.	Green Party	361	10.1%

Electorate 5,497 · Ballots cast 3,591 · Back to ward index

Chittlehampton · single-seat

Marginal winner 47.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference +2.9 pts below quota Valid ballots 787

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Whitehead, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	371	47.1%	Elected
2	Burn, J.	Liberal Democrats	255	32.4%
3	Basil, N.	Green Party	109	13.9%
4	Blyther, C.	Labour Party	52	6.6%

Electorate 2,032 · Ballots cast 787 · Back to ward index

Combe Martin · single-seat

Marginal winner 52.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −2.0 pts Valid ballots 734

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Lethaby, B.	Independent	382	52.0%	Elected
2	Irving, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	239	32.6%
3	Cornish, R.	Green Party	113	15.4%

Electorate 2,111 · Ballots cast 734 · Back to ward index

Barnstaple Central · single-seat

Marginal winner 53.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −3.5 pts Valid ballots 510

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jusef, S.	Liberal Democrats	273	53.5%	Elected
2	Howe, R.	Conservative and Unionist Party	92	18.0%
3	Porter, H.	Green Party	86	16.9%
4	Tomlinson, R.	Labour Party	28	5.5%
5	Burden-Brewer, B.	Independent	16	3.1%
6	Sables, G.	CPB	15	2.9%

Electorate 2,003 · Ballots cast 510 · Back to ward index

Lynton & Lynmouth · single-seat

Marginal winner 56.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −6.3 pts Valid ballots 645

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Patrinos, J.	Independent	363	56.3%	Elected
2	Atherton, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	201	31.2%
3	Owen, D.	Liberal Democrats	81	12.6%

Electorate 1,807 · Ballots cast 645 · Back to ward index

Mortehoe · single-seat

Marginal winner 56.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −6.5 pts Valid ballots 547

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Wilkinson, M.	Liberal Democrats	309	56.5%	Elected
2	Kingdom, S.	Conservative and Unionist Party	130	23.8%
3	Davis, S.	Green Party	58	10.6%
4	Bell, O.	Labour Party	50	9.1%

Electorate 1,735 · Ballots cast 547 · Back to ward index

North Molton · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.3 pts Valid ballots 686

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Bulled, L.	Conservative and Unionist Party	407	59.3%	Elected
2	Marchewka, G.	Liberal Democrats	145	21.1%
3	Barraclough, C.	Green Party	134	19.5%

Electorate 1,777 · Ballots cast 686 · Back to ward index

Heanton Punchardon · single-seat

Marginal winner 59.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −9.4 pts Valid ballots 463

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Knight, R.	Green Party	275	59.4%	Elected
2	Jenkins, D.	Liberal Democrats	113	24.4%
3	Cann, V.	Labour Party	75	16.2%

Electorate 1,858 · Ballots cast 463 · Back to ward index

Bratton Fleming · single-seat

Marginal winner 62.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −12.2 pts Valid ballots 780

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Prowse, M.	Independent	485	62.2%	Elected
2	Godfrey, I.	Green Party	112	14.4%
3	Chugg, D.	Conservative and Unionist Party	102	13.1%
4	Mason, M.	Labour Party	81	10.4%

Electorate 1,934 · Ballots cast 780 · Back to ward index

Chulmleigh · single-seat

Marginal winner 63.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −13.5 pts Valid ballots 784

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Davies, K.	Liberal Democrats	498	63.5%	Elected
2	Lee, J.	Conservative and Unionist Party	232	29.6%
3	Ellis, H.	Labour Party	54	6.9%

Electorate 1,842 · Ballots cast 784 · Back to ward index

Witheridge · single-seat

Marginal winner 63.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −13.9 pts Valid ballots 673

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Jones, P.	Independent	430	63.9%	Elected
2	Fox, W.	Green Party	243	36.1%

Electorate 1,917 · Ballots cast 673 · Back to ward index

Bishop's Nympton · single-seat

Marginal winner 68.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Difference −18.7 pts Valid ballots 721

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Elected
1	Milton, R.	Independent	495	68.7%	Elected
2	Withers, N.	Green Party	131	18.2%
3	Shah, A.	Liberal Democrats	95	13.2%

Electorate 1,903 · Ballots cast 721 · Back to ward index