Contestation rate
How widely a party put up candidates.
How it's calculated
Wards where the party stood at least one candidate ÷ wards with a contest.
Worked example
Reform UK stood in Heworth in 2026 but not in 2023; the Greens, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives stood in both.
Source: Heworth ward, City of York — by-election of 15 January 2026 and May 2023.
Caveats
- Needs complete candidate lists; gaps in older data lower the rate.
Where it's used
- Recruitment Signal
- Election Health (coming soon)
Other definitions
Vote shareChange in shareSwing (two-party, Butler)MajoritySwing needed to gainUncontested seatCandidates per seat / per wardWinner's shareEffective number of partiesWinner's bonus (seats vs votes)Incumbency and re-election rateWomen candidates and councillorsTurnout (three methods)Council control and No Overall Control (NOC)Majority at riskPsephology National Share EstimateBy-election vote trackerNotional resultIndex of changeSplit-ticket indicatorNational Equivalent Vote