# Colchester City Council elections

One third of Colchester City Council in Essex, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes at the 2016 election, 51 councillors have been elected from 17 wards.

## Elections

Detailed results of these elections are shown in the table below. Boundary changes took place for the 1990, 2002, 2016 and 2026 elections leading to the whole council being elected on those years.
| Year | LD | Con | Lab | Tip Res | Ind | Grn | |
| 2026 | | | | | | | |
| Ward boundary changes ||||||||
| 2024 | 15 | 19 | 14 | - | - | 3 | |
| 2023 | 15 | 19 | 15 | - | - | 3 | |
| 2022 | 14 | 19 | 13 | - | 2 | 3 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 23 | 11 | - | 3 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 13 | 23 | 11 | - | 3 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 12 | 25 | 11 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2016 | 15 | 22 | 11 | - | 3 | - | |
| Ward boundary changes; seats reduced from 60 to 51 ||||||||
| 2015 | 20 | 27 | 9 | - | 4 | - | |
| 2014 | 25 | 23 | 8 | - | 3 | - | [2] [n 2] |
| 2012 | 26 | 23 | 8 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2011 | 26 | 24 | 7 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2010 | 26 | 24 | 7 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2008 | 23 | 27 | 7 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2007 | 21 | 30 | 6 | - | 3 | - | |
| 2006 | 21 | 30 | 7 | - | 2 | - | |
| 2004 | 23 | 28 | 6 | - | 2 | - | |
| 2003 | 25 | 24 | 5 | - | 6 | - | |
| 2002 | 26 | 24 | 6 | - | 4 | - | |
| Ward boundary changes ||||||||
| 2000 | 23 | 21 | 15 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1999 | 26 | 17 | 16 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1998 | 27 | 14 | 18 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1996 | 32 | 11 | 16 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1995 | 33 | 14 | 12 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1994 | 33 | 19 | 7 | 1 | - | - | |
| 1992 | 29 | 21 | 8 | 2 | - | - | |
| 1991 | 28 | 19 | 11 | 2 | - | - | |
| 1990 | 28 | 17 | 12 | 3 | - | - | |
| Ward boundary changes ||||||||
| 1988 | 24 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1987 | 22 | 24 | 10 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1986 | 16 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1984 | 10 | 34 | 12 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1983 | 5 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1982 | 2 | 35 | 19 | 3 | 1 | - | |
| 1980 | - | 35 | 22 | 2 | 1 | - | |
| 1979 | - | 36 | 21 | 2 | 1 | - | |
| 1978 | - | 37 | 21 | 1 | 1 | - | |
| 1976 | - | 39 | 18 | 2 | 1 | - | |
| New ward boundaries; seats increased from 58 to 60 ||||||||
| 1973 | 1 | 28 | 26 | 3 | 2 | - | |
| Local authority reorganisation; interim council created (58 seats) ||||||||

## Results maps

* 2024
* 2023
* 2022
* 2021
* 2019
* 2018
* 2016
* 2015
* 2014
* 2012
* 2010
* 2008
* 2007
* 2006
* 2004
* 2003
* 2002
* 2000
* 1999
* 1998
* 1996
* 1995
* 1994
* 1992
* 1991
* 1990
* 1988
* 1987
* 1986
* 1984
* 1983
* 1982
* 1980
* 1979
* 1978
* 1976

## By-election results

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of by-elections from 1997 onwards; full by-election results can be found by clicking on the by-election name.
| By-election | Date | Incumbent party | Winning party |
| Highwoods by-election | 21 September 2023 | Labour | Liberal Democrats |
| Highwoods by-election | 8 December 2022 | Independent | Labour |
| Highwoods by-election | 8 December 2022 | Independent | Liberal Democrats |
| Lexden & Braiswick by-election | 28 July 2022 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Shrub End by-election | 9 September 2017 | Liberal Democrats | Conservative |
| Dedham & Langham by-election | 15 September 2015 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Wivenhoe Quay by-election | 3 July 2014 | Labour | Labour |
| Birch and Winstree by-election | 4 December 2008 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Berechurch by-election | 21 October 2004 | Liberal Democrats | Labour |
| Wivenhoe Quay by-election | 22 April 2004 | Independent | Labour |
| Mile End by-election | 22 November 2001 | Liberal Democrats | Liberal Democrats |
| Prettygate by-election | 7 June 2001 | Conservative | Liberal Democrats |
| Lexden by-election | 19 October 2000 | Conservative | Conservative |
| Tiptree by-election | 25 June 1998 | Labour | Labour |
| Dedham by-election | 4 September 1997 | Liberal Democrats | Conservative |