Majority

How it's calculated

Single-member: winner's share minus runner-up's share (pp), also shown in votes. Multi-member: the lowest-placed winner minus the highest-placed loser.

Worked example

2026 by-election: Labour 1,096 minus Reform UK 601 = 495 votes (16.6pp).

May 2023, three seats: lowest Labour winner 1,867 minus highest loser (Green, 515) = 1,352 votes.

Source: Heworth ward, City of York — by-election of 15 January 2026 and May 2023.

Caveats

• Multi-member majorities depend on how evenly a party's candidates poll.

Where it's used

• Council Previews and Target Wards (coming soon)

Other definitions

Vote shareChange in shareSwing (two-party, Butler)Swing needed to gainUncontested seatCandidates per seat / per wardContestation rateWinner'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