# South Down (Assembly constituency)

South Down is an electoral constituency for the Northern Ireland Assembly. It lies in the southern portion of County Down.
The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1973. It usually shares the same boundaries as the South Down UK Parliament constituency, however the boundaries of the two constituencies were slightly different from 1983 to 1986 as the Assembly boundaries had not caught up with Parliamentary boundary changes and from 1996 to 1997 when members of the Northern Ireland Forum had been elected from the newly drawn Parliamentary constituencies but the 51st Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected in 1992 under the 1983–95 constituency boundaries, was still in session.
Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention, the 1982 Assembly, the 1996 Forum and then to the current Assembly from 1998.
Some of the most high-profile MLAs for the constituency have included Caitríona Ruane, Margaret Ritchie, and John McCallister.
For further details on the history and boundaries of the constituency, see South Down (UK Parliament constituency).

## Members

| Election | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) | MLA (party) |
| 1973 | Patrick O'Donoghue (SDLP) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Frank Feely (SDLP) | Brian Faulkner (UUP/UPNI) | | Herbert Heslip (UUP) | | Ronald Broadhurst (UUP) | | Cecil Harvey (Vanguard) |
| 1975 | Patrick O'Donoghue (SDLP) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Frank Feely (SDLP) | Brian Faulkner (UUP/UPNI) | | Herbert Heslip (UUP) | | Peter Brush (UUP) | | Cecil Harvey (Vanguard) |
| 1982 | Patrick O'Donoghue (SDLP) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Frank Feely (SDLP) | Raymond McCullough (UUP) | | William Brown (UUP) | | Jim Wells (DUP) | | George Graham (DUP) |
| 1985 by-election | Patrick O'Donoghue (SDLP) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Frank Feely (SDLP) | Jeffrey Donaldson (UUP) | | William Brown (UUP) | | Jim Wells (DUP) | | George Graham (DUP) |
| 1996 | Mick Murphy (Sinn Féin) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) | Hugh Carr (SDLP) | | Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) | 5 seats 1996–1998 | 5 seats 1996–1998 | 5 seats 1996–1998 | 5 seats 1996–1998 |
| 1998 | Mick Murphy (Sinn Féin) | Eddie McGrady (SDLP) | Eamon O'Neill (SDLP) | P. J. Bradley (SDLP) | | Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| 2003 | Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) | Willie Clarke (Sinn Féin) | Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) | P. J. Bradley (SDLP) | | Dermot Nesbitt (UUP) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| 2007 | Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) | Willie Clarke (Sinn Féin) | Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) | P. J. Bradley (SDLP) | | John McCallister (UUP/Independent) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| 2011 | Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) | Willie Clarke (Sinn Féin) | Margaret Ritchie (SDLP) | Karen McKevitt (SDLP) | | John McCallister (UUP/Independent) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| April 2012 co-option | Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) | Chris Hazzard (Sinn Féin) | Seán Rogers (SDLP) | Karen McKevitt (SDLP) | | John McCallister (UUP/Independent) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| 2016 | Caitríona Ruane (Sinn Féin) | Chris Hazzard (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Sinéad Bradley (SDLP) | | Harold McKee (UUP) | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 6 seats 1998–2017 | 6 seats 1998–2017 |
| 2017 | Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin) | Chris Hazzard (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Sinéad Bradley (SDLP) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present |
| June 2017 co-option | Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin) | Emma Rogan (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Sinéad Bradley (SDLP) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present |
| May 2018 defection | Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin) | Emma Rogan (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Sinéad Bradley (SDLP) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present | | Jim Wells (DUP/Independent Unionist) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present |
| 2022 | Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin) | Cathy Mason (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Patrick Brown (Alliance) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present | | Diane Forsythe (DUP) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present |
| April 2024 co-option | Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin) | Cathy Mason (Sinn Féin) | Colin McGrath (SDLP) | Andrew McMurray (Alliance) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present | | Diane Forsythe (DUP) | 5 seats 2017–present | 5 seats 2017–present |
Note: The columns in this table are used only for presentational purposes, and no significance should be attached to the order of columns. For details of the order in which seats were won at each election, see the detailed results of that election.

## Elections
### Northern Ireland Assembly
#### 2022

2022 Assembly election: South Down – 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sinéad Ennis | 26.17% | 14,381 | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Cathy Mason | 18.13% | 9,963 | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Patrick Brown | 12.63% | 6,942 | 8,071 | 8,251 | 8,865 | 9,301 | |
| | DUP | Diane Forsythe | 11.82% | 6,497 | 6,512 | 6,513 | 6,617 | 8,034 | 11,073 |
| | SDLP | Colin McGrath | 11.07% | 6,082 | 7,748 | 8,164 | 8,798 | 8,933 | 9,119 |
| | SDLP | Karen McKevitt | 5.47% | 3,006 | 4,772 | 4,875 | 5,090 | 5,139 | 5,259 |
| | TUV | Harold McKee | 5.96% | 3,273 | 3,279 | 3,280 | 3,332 | 4,118 | |
| | UUP | Jill Macauley | 5.24% | 2,880 | 2,900 | 2,902 | 2,944 | | |
| | Aontú | Rosemary McGlone | 2.14% | 1,177 | 1,439 | 1,488 | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Noeleen Lynch | 0.75% | 412 | 564 | 580 | | | |
| | People Before Profit | Paul McCrory | 0.37% | 205 | 270 | 283 | | | |
| | Independent | Patrick Clarke | 0.24% | 134 | 209 | 224 | | | |
| Electorate: 84,046 Valid: 54,952 (65.38%) Spoilt: 679 Quota: 9,159 Turnout: 55,631 (66.19%) ||||||||||

#### 2017

2017 Assembly election: South Down – 5 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| | Sinn Féin | Sinéad Ennis | 20.76% | 10,256 | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Chris Hazzard | 17.87% | 8,827 | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Sinéad Bradley | 14.82% | 7,323 | 7,487 | 8,906.12 | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 15.76% | 7,786 | 8,088 | 8,091.36 | 8,091.64 | 10,821.64 | | |
| | SDLP | Colin McGrath | 10.34% | 5,110 | 5,202 | 5,512.8 | 6,043.68 | 6,632.42 | 7,228.42 | 7,613.62 |
| | Alliance | Patrick Brown | 9.18% | 4,535 | 4,883 | 5,101.64 | 5,194.88 | 6,007.82 | 6,730.82 | 6,874.66 |
| | UUP | Harold McKee | 8.45% | 4,172 | 4,509 | 4,522.44 | 4,527.76 | | | |
| | TUV | Lyle Rea | 1.28% | 630 | | | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Hannah George | 0.98% | 483 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Patrick Clarke | 0.39% | 192 | | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Gary Hynds | 0.17% | 85 | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 75,415 Valid: 49,399 (65.50%) Spoilt: 535 Quota: 8,234 Turnout: 49,932 (66.21%) |||||||||||

#### 2016

2016 Assembly election: South Down – 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 12.25% | 5,033 | 5,183 | 6,470 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Harold McKee | 8.47% | 3,481 | 3,812 | 5,168 | 5,567 | 6,141 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Chris Hazzard | 12.28% | 5,045 | 5,142 | 5,144 | 5,321 | 5,321.5 | 7,277.5 | | |
| | SDLP | Sinéad Bradley | 12.32% | 5,059 | 5,231 | 5,241 | 5,828 | 5,834 | 6,144 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Caitríona Ruane | 10.20% | 4,191 | 4,240 | 4,244 | 4,335 | 4,335 | 5,415 | 6,664.5 | |
| | SDLP | Colin McGrath | 10.44% | 4,288 | 4,429 | 4,440 | 5,033 | 5,038 | 5,121 | 5,190 | 5,397 |
| | SDLP | Seán Rogers | 8.68% | 3,564 | 3,699 | 3,721 | 4,076 | 4,086.5 | 4,227.5 | 4,309 | 4,595.75 |
| | Sinn Féin | Michael Gray-Sloan | 8.57% | 3,520 | 3,571 | 3,572 | 3,665 | 3,665 | | | |
| | Alliance | Patrick Brown | 5.36% | 2,200 | 2,841 | 2,869 | | | | | |
| | TUV | Henry Reilly | 6.62% | 2,718 | 2,800 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | John McCallister | 2.81% | 1,156 | | | | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | John Hardy | 2.00% | 820 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 77,409 Valid: 41,075 (53.06%) Spoilt: 570 Quota: 5,868 Turnout: 41,645 (53.80%) ||||||||||||

#### 2011

2011 Assembly election: South Down – 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | SDLP | Margaret Ritchie | 20.61% | 8,506 | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Caitríona Ruane | 14.43% | 5,955 | 6,192.15 | | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 12.60% | 5,200 | 5,284.84 | 5,354.56 | 5,404.28 | 6,543.28 | | | | |
| | UUP | John McCallister | 10.68% | 4,409 | 4,480.92 | 4,624.88 | 4,714.77 | 5,679.9 | 6,329.6 | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Willie Clarke | 9.40% | 3,882 | 3,957.95 | 3,992.5 | 4,094.15 | 4,101.46 | 4,103.2 | 6,777.2 | | |
| | SDLP | Karen McKevitt | 9.10% | 3,758 | 4,318.79 | 4,432.71 | 4,675.33 | 4,702.43 | 4,707.27 | 4,842.93 | 5,277.28 | 5,347.46 |
| | SDLP | Eamon O'Neill | 6.38% | 2,663 | 3,844.72 | 3,959.19 | 4,222.77 | 4,251.35 | 4,259.47 | 4,449.46 | 4,826.14 | 4,882.98 |
| | Sinn Féin | Naomi Bailie | 7.39% | 3,050 | 3,150.44 | 3,161.06 | 3,305.46 | 3,306.77 | 3,308.51 | | | |
| | UKIP | Henry Reilly | 5.63% | 2,332 | 2,353.29 | 2,373.7 | 2,398.94 | | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Cadogan Enright | 2.68% | 1,107 | 1,227.28 | 1,238.75 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | David Griffin | 2.09% | 864 | 915.15 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 73,240 Valid: 41,726 (56.97%) Spoilt: 825 Quota: 5,961 Turnout: 42,551 (58.10%) |||||||||||||

#### 2007

2007 Assembly election: South Down – 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | Sinn Féin | Caitríona Ruane | 13.74% | 6,334 | 6,336 | 6,337 | 6,337 | 6,428 | 6,450 | 6,676 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Willie Clarke | 11.14% | 5,138 | 5,145 | 5,152 | 5,154 | 5,259 | 5,273 | 5,412 | 7,382 | | | |
| | SDLP | Margaret Ritchie | 12.66% | 5,838 | 5,870 | 5,887 | 5,892 | 6,026 | 6,055 | 6,429 | 6,945 | | | |
| | SDLP | P. J. Bradley | 12.26% | 5,652 | 5,662 | 5,682 | 5,684 | 5,772 | 5,829 | 6,190 | 6,286 | 6,650.32 | | |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 12.02% | 5,542 | 5,546 | 5,605 | 5,763 | 5,792 | 6,188 | 6,240 | 6,248 | 6,250.97 | 8,462.97 | |
| | UUP | John McCallister | 9.64% | 4,447 | 4,448 | 4,553 | 4,637 | 4,819 | 5,230 | 5,370 | 5,377 | 5,384.92 | 6,046.91 | 7,720.91 |
| | SDLP | Michael Carr | 6.45% | 2,972 | 2,976 | 2,986 | 2,989 | 3,062 | 3,093 | 3,354 | 3,422 | 3,830.87 | 3,853.87 | 3,882.87 |
| | DUP | William Burns | 5.66% | 2,611 | 2,613 | 2,667 | 2,721 | 2,741 | 3,040 | 3,061 | 3,062 | 3,064.97 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Eamonn McConvey | 5.77% | 2,662 | 2,678 | 2,679 | 2,679 | 2,703 | 2,703 | 2,778 | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Ciaran Mussen | 3.52% | 1,622 | 1,646 | 1,675 | 1,685 | 2,008 | 2,043 | | | | | |
| | UKIP | Henry Reilly | 2.67% | 1,229 | 1,229 | 1,239 | 1,326 | 1,354 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | David Griffin | 1.50% | 691 | 700 | 743 | 755 | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Republican | Martin Cunningham | 0.94% | 434 | 441 | 448 | 448 | | | | | | | |
| | UK Unionist | Frederick Wharton | 0.92% | 424 | 424 | 443 | | | | | | | | |
| | NI Conservatives | Peter Bowles | 0.85% | 391 | 391 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour Party NI | Malachi Curran | 0.27% | 123 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 71,704 Valid: 46,110 (64.31%) Spoilt: 513 Quota: 6,588 Turnout: 46,623 (65.02%) |||||||||||||||

#### 2003

2003 Assembly election: South Down – 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 14.97% | 6,789 | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | P. J. Bradley | 11.77% | 5,337 | 5,337.36 | 5,355.36 | 5,682.96 | 7,136.96 | | | | |
| | UUP | Dermot Nesbitt | 11.84% | 5,368 | 5,411 | 5,420 | 5,759.04 | 5,797.2 | 5,802.72 | 5,822.72 | 8,325.72 | |
| | Sinn Féin | Caitríona Ruane | 11.29% | 5,118 | 5,118 | 5,124 | 5,211.08 | 5,415.08 | 5,450.04 | 6,024.42 | 6,026.54 | 6,035.54 |
| | Sinn Féin | Willie Clarke | 9.00% | 4,083 | 4,083.08 | 4,092.08 | 4,185.16 | 4,268.2 | 4,278.78 | 5,920.74 | 5,926.44 | 5,934.44 |
| | SDLP | Margaret Ritchie | 9.40% | 4,261 | 4,261.76 | 4,313.76 | 4,665.32 | 4,848.36 | 4,921.5 | 5,419.96 | 5,477.96 | 5,733.96 |
| | SDLP | Eamon O'Neill | 8.69% | 3,942 | 3,942.92 | 3,963.92 | 4,220.24 | 4,692.32 | 5,215.34 | 5,350.34 | 5,411.52 | 5,697.52 |
| | UUP | Jim Donaldson | 6.36% | 2,885 | 2,984.52 | 2,989.52 | 3,254.96 | 3,264.12 | 3,265.96 | 3,269.42 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Eamonn McConvey | 6.19% | 2,806 | 2,806.12 | 2,833.12 | 2,961.16 | 2,986.16 | 2,990.3 | | | |
| | SDLP | Marion Fitzpatrick | 5.25% | 2,382 | 2,382.44 | 2,409.44 | 2,555.64 | | | | | |
| | Green (NI) | Raymond Blaney | 1.76% | 799 | 799.76 | 851.76 | | | | | | |
| | NI Women's Coalition | Trudy Miller | 1.25% | 565 | 565.6 | 589.6 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Neil Powell | 1.08% | 489 | 489.48 | 495.48 | | | | | | |
| | UK Unionist | Nelson Wharton | 0.54% | 245 | 360.64 | 362.72 | | | | | | |
| | Independent | Malachi Curran | 0.36% | 162 | 162.08 | | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Des O'Hagan | 0.25% | 115 | 115.08 | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 70,149 Valid: 45,346 (64.64%) Spoilt: 666 Quota: 6,479 Turnout: 46,012 (65.59%) |||||||||||||

#### 1998

1998 Assembly election: South Down – 6 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | SDLP | Eddie McGrady | 20.20% | 10,373 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Mick Murphy | 12.17% | 6,251 | 6,418.33 | 6,514.51 | 6,517.51 | 6,574.08 | 7,761.08 | | | | | |
| | UUP | Dermot Nesbitt | 10.67% | 5,480 | 5,507.84 | 5,524.03 | 5,788.9 | 6,133.54 | 6,137.99 | 6,137.99 | 7,770.99 | | | |
| | SDLP | P. J. Bradley | 10.85% | 5,571 | 6,218.28 | 6,313.44 | 6,317.31 | 6,485.16 | 6,563.4 | 6,665.52 | 6,716.39 | 6,739.49 | 7,390.23 | |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 9.40% | 4,826 | 4,830.06 | 4,840.35 | 5,261.35 | 5,270.35 | 5,272.35 | 5,273.27 | 5,631.85 | 5,792.85 | 5,849.34 | 8,170.34 |
| | SDLP | Eamon O'Neill | 6.98% | 3,582 | 4,752.73 | 4,889.94 | 4,892.52 | 5,006.57 | 5,144.92 | 5,289.36 | 5,323.39 | 5,342.29 | 6,120.06 | 6,163.2 |
| | SDLP | Hugh Carr | 7.27% | 3,731 | 4,132.36 | 4,230.24 | 4,232.24 | 4,379.71 | 4,438.47 | 4,501.03 | 4,517.9 | 4,528.4 | 5,114.14 | 5,186.72 |
| | UK Unionist | Frederick Wharton | 5.02% | 2,576 | 2,577.16 | 2,581.16 | 2,886.45 | 2,904.74 | 2,905.74 | 2,906.20 | 3,125.36 | 3,271.66 | 3,313.71 | |
| | NI Women's Coalition | Anne Carr | 3.23% | 1,658 | 1,811.41 | 2,000.03 | 2,009.32 | 2,563.74 | 2,675.11 | 2,785.05 | 2,890.12 | 2,955.57 | | |
| | UUP | Norman Hanna | 3.78% | 1,939 | 1,946.83 | 1,962.28 | 2,481.15 | 2,642.73 | 2,646.73 | 2,647.65 | | | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Garret O'Fachtna | 2.96% | 1,520 | 1,603.81 | 1,697.41 | 1,697.7 | 1,716.73 | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Anne-Marie Cunningham | 2.92% | 1,502 | 1,586.39 | 1,675.63 | 1,697.5 | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Unionist | George Graham | 3.04% | 1,562 | 1,567.51 | 1,578.51 | | | | | | | | |
| | Labour Party NI | Malachi Curran | 0.97% | 498 | 634.01 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Des O'Hagan | 0.25% | 130 | 151.17 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Independent Labour | Patrick O'Connor | 0.24% | 121 | 148.84 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Natural Law | Thomas Mullins | 0.06% | 33 | 38.51 | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 71,000 Valid: 51,353 (72.33%) Spoilt: 989 Quota: 7,337 Turnout: 52,342 (73.72%) |||||||||||||||

### 1996 forum

Successful candidates are shown in bold.
| Party | Candidate(s) | Votes | Percentage |
| SDLP | Eddie McGrady Hugh Carr Margaret Ritchie Marietta Farrell John Doris | 20,220 | 43.2 |
| UUP | Dermot Nesbitt Frederick Wharton Gerry Douglas Albert Colmer William Martin | 10,379 | 22.2 |
| Sinn Féin | Mick Murphy Frank McDowell Martin Gough Deidre Clark | 6,142 | 13.1 |
| DUP | William Alexander John Finlay William Burns | 5,060 | 10.8 |
| Alliance | Julian Crozier Michael Healy | 1,685 | 3.6 |
| Labour coalition | Malachi Curran Patrick O'Connor Edna Furey James Masson Michael Kearney | 927 | 2.0 |
| PUP | George Graham James McDonald | 497 | 1.1 |
| NI Women's Coalition | Bronagh Lawson Claire Hannah Lynn Carvill Ursula Leahy | 464 | 1.0 |
| Ulster Democratic | Norma Coulter Denis Paisley | 404 | 0.9 |
| Green (NI) | Maggie Burch Eugene O'Shea Christopher Busby | 251 | 0.6 |
| NI Conservatives | Paul Megarity Michael Henderson | 197 | 0.4 |
| Workers' Party | Marie O'Hagan Eddie O'Hagan | 162 | 0.4 |
| Ulster Independence | Samuel Pollock Stanley Watson James McElrath | 130 | 0.3 |
| Democratic Partnership | William Leneghan Sean O'Baoill | 117 | 0.2 |
| Democratic Left | Veronica McEneaney Jim Ryan | 65 | 0.1 |
| Natural Law | Desmond Garrett William McCarthy | 30 | 0.1 |
| Independent Chambers | George Chambers Doreen Larmour | 18 | 0.0 |

### 1985 by-election

17 October 1985 by-election: South Down – 1 seat :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 |
| | UUP | Jeffrey Donaldson | 86.1% | 17,528 |
| | Ind. Unionist | Ethel Smyth | 13.9% | 2,838 |
| Electorate: 98,126 Valid: 20,366 Spoilt: 0 Quota: 10,184 Turnout: 20,366 (21.3%) |||||

### 1982

1982 Assembly election: South Down – 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| | SDLP | Frank Feely | 12.52% | 7,391 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Eddie McGrady | 12.38% | 7,313 | 7,636 | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | William Brown | 8.84% | 5,220 | 5,227 | 5,234 | 5,441 | 5,441 | 7,593 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick O'Donoghue | 10.02% | 5,916 | 6,252 | 6,440 | 6,449 | 6,449 | 6,455 | 8,181 | | | | |
| | UUP | Raymond McCullough | 9.82% | 5,802 | 5,808 | 5,809 | 5,903 | 5,903 | 6,451 | 6,458 | 6,471 | 6,497.28 | 9,553.28 | |
| | DUP | George Graham | 6.90% | 4,075 | 4,081 | 4,082 | 5,366 | 5,336 | 5,533 | 5,543 | 5,548 | 5,552.14 | 6,518.35 | 7,596.35 |
| | DUP | Jim Wells | 6.40% | 3,779 | 3,783 | 3,783 | 5,361 | 5,361 | 5,474 | 5,488 | 5,503 | 5,505.16 | 5,662.54 | 5,936.54 |
| | Alliance | Patrick Forde | 6.17% | 3,646 | 3,999 | 4,027 | 4,047 | 4,047 | 4,148 | 4,346 | 4,707 | 4,708.53 | 4,878.11 | 5,101.11 |
| | UUP | William Coulter | 6.41% | 3,787 | 3,794 | 3,795 | 3,828 | 3,828 | 4,490 | 4,497 | 4,508 | 4,664.96 | | |
| | Sinn Féin | Cyril Toman | 5.75% | 3,393 | 3,772 | 3,795 | 3,805 | 3,805 | 3,806 | | | | | |
| | UUP | William Martin | 6.03% | 3,562 | 3,567 | 3,568 | 3,798 | 3,798 | | | | | | |
| | DUP | Ethel Smyth | 5.92% | 3,495 | 3,507 | 3,508 | | | | | | | | |
| | Workers' Party | Thomas Moore | 2.84% | 1,676 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 93,261 Valid: 59,055 (63.32%) Spoilt: 2,137 Quota: 7,382 Turnout: 61,192 (65.61%) |||||||||||||||

### 1975 Constitutional Convention

1975 Constitutional Convention: South Down – 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| | SDLP | Frank Feely | 16.02% | 9,730 | | | | | | | | |
| | Vanguard | Cecil Harvey | 14.56% | 8,843 | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Eddie McGrady | 11.95% | 7,257 | 8,560.28 | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick O'Donoghue | 10.96% | 6,657 | 7,335.26 | 7,336.52 | 8,231.08 | | | | | |
| | Unionist Party NI | Brian Faulkner | 9.94% | 6,035 | 6,048.2 | 6,075.78 | 6,078.5 | 6,114.34 | 6,127.14 | 6,608.72 | 6,687.12 | 8,512.12 |
| | UUP | Peter Brush | 10.36% | 6,293 | 6,294.32 | 6,520.56 | 6,520.46 | 6,520.46 | 6,520.56 | 6,813.24 | 6,891.16 | 6,995 |
| | UUP | Herbert Heslip | 10.50% | 6,380 | 6,384.84 | 6,643.7 | 6,643.86 | 6,644.5 | 6,645.72 | 6,726.26 | 6,736.72 | 6,838.18 |
| | DUP | David Herron | 6.18% | 3,752 | 3,757.28 | 4,464 | 4,464.16 | 4,464.16 | 4,465.16 | 4,536.28 | 4,552.50 | 4,624.66 |
| | Alliance | Anthony Williamson | 2.65% | 1,612 | 1,659.96 | 1,660.24 | 1,676.08 | 1,882.8 | 1,931.02 | 1,937.46 | 2,136.46 | |
| | Alliance | Denys Rowan-Hamilton | 2.48% | 1,509 | 1,518.02 | 1,520.82 | 1,529.46 | 1,678.42 | 1,714.02 | 1,757.02 | 1,950.58 | |
| | Republican Clubs | Raymond Blaney | 1.65% | 1,002 | 1,018.5 | 1,018.64 | 1,022.16 | 1,056.72 | 1,672.28 | 1,673.5 | | |
| | Unionist Party NI | Ronald Broadhurst | 1.64% | 994 | 995.1 | 1,001.96 | 1,002.44 | 1,007.08 | 1,007.08 | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Gerard O'Hanlon | 1.12% | 680 | 706.18 | 706.18 | 721.38 | 843.3 | | | | |
| Electorate: 89,912 Valid: 60,744 (67.56%) Spoilt: 2,129 Quota: 7,594 Turnout: 62,873 (69.93%) |||||||||||||

### 1973

1973 Assembly election: South Down – 7 seats :
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count | Count |
| Party | Party | Candidate | FPv% | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| | UUP | Brian Faulkner | 25.43% | 16,287 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Eddie McGrady | 12.29% | 7,870 | 7,894.99 | 7,913.50 | 7,926.5 | 7,927.5 | 7,972.01 | 8,050.01 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | UUP | Ronald Broadhurst | 2.37% | 1,515 | 6,049.41 | 6,075.02 | 6,075.02 | 6,266.74 | 6,268.25 | 6,270.27 | 6,273.78 | 6,344.42 | 6,370.62 | 6,374.13 | 9,108.64 | | | | | |
| | SDLP | Frank Feely | 10.71% | 6,857 | 6,869.24 | 6,895.75 | 6,929.75 | 6,931.75 | 6,949.75 | 7,055.75 | 7,344.75 | 7,352.75 | 7,422.77 | 7,759.77 | 7,761.28 | 7,762.3 | 9,190.3 | | | |
| | SDLP | Patrick O'Donoghue | 6.75% | 4,322 | 4,327.1 | 4,343.1 | 4,346.1 | 4,347.1 | 4,406.1 | 4,507.61 | 4,608.61 | 4,630.14 | 4,745.65 | 5,709.65 | 5,711.65 | 5,712.67 | 7,180.69 | 8,225.69 | | |
| | Vanguard | Cecil Harvey | 7.82% | 5,006 | 5,435.42 | 5,442.42 | 5,445.42 | 5,672.17 | 5,672.17 | 5,678.68 | 5,682.68 | 5,689.23 | 5,689.23 | 5,691.23 | 5,931.58 | 6,095.29 | 6,099.29 | 6,102.29 | 6,105.59 | 9,485.59 |
| | UUP | Herbert Heslip | 5.99% | 3,838 | 4,709.08 | 4,715.61 | 4,715.61 | 4,758.81 | 4,760.81 | 4,765.81 | 4,768.83 | 4,776.87 | 4,779.89 | 4,780.89 | 5,360.47 | 5,960.23 | 5,967.27 | 5,969.27 | 5,971.25 | 7,177.36 |
| | Alliance | Anthony Williamson | 2.33% | 1,489 | 1,519.09 | 1,543.09 | 1,546.09 | 1,548.09 | 1,550.09 | 1,590.09 | 1,598.09 | 2,283.3 | 4,155.98 | 4,261.49 | 4,296.77 | 4,398.26 | 4,664.77 | 4,711.77 | 4,923.63 | 4,954.5 |
| | DUP | David Herron | 6.27% | 4,016 | 4,327.61 | 4,332.12 | 4,332.12 | 4,453.81 | 4,453.81 | 4,461.81 | 4,464.81 | 4,471.32 | 4,471.83 | 4,473.83 | 4,666.69 | 4,811.02 | 4,816.02 | 4,818.02 | 4,819.34 | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Rory McShane | 4.35% | 2,785 | 2,790.1 | 2,799.61 | 2,827.61 | 2,827.61 | 2,881.61 | 2,979.61 | 3,312.12 | 3,325.63 | 3,340.14 | 4,059.14 | 4,061.14 | 4,061.14 | | | | |
| | UUP | William Martin | 3.12% | 1,996 | 3,760.6 | 3,766.11 | 3,766.11 | 3,810.74 | 3,812.74 | 3,817.27 | 3,820.82 | 3,851.08 | 3,865.12 | 3,865.12 | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | James O'Reilly | 3.12% | 2,000 | 2,001.02 | 2,008.02 | 2,016.02 | 2,018.02 | 2,092.02 | 2,268.53 | 2,397.53 | 2,405.04 | 2,447.04 | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Michael O'Shea | 2.30% | 1,475 | 1,503.05 | 1,557.09 | 1,558.09 | 1,561.09 | 1,565.09 | 1,588.6 | 1,605.6 | 2,209.04 | | | | | | | | |
| | Alliance | Denys Rowan-Hamilton | 2.06% | 1,316 | 1,428.2 | 1,464.26 | 1,465.26 | 1,467.77 | 1,468.77 | 1,480.28 | 1,483.28 | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Noel Collins | 1.01% | 648 | 652.08 | 652.08 | 959.08 | 965.08 | 1,378.08 | 1,402.1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ind. Nationalist | Arthur Doran | 1.02% | 653 | 658.1 | 678.61 | 686.63 | 696.14 | 705.14 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Edward O'Hagan | 0.96% | 612 | 613.02 | 614.02 | 695.02 | 695.53 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | National Front | William Annett | 0.92% | 591 | 668.52 | 672.52 | 672.52 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Republican Clubs | Samuel Dowling | 0.78% | 499 | 499 | 502.02 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Ulster Liberal | Berkley Farr | 0.41% | 263 | 279.32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Electorate: 89,234 Valid: 64,038 (71.76%) Spoilt: 1,359 Quota: 8,005 Turnout: 65,397 (73.29%) |||||||||||||||||||||