BRIEFING PAPER Number CBP7920, 9 March 2017

Northern Ireland By Noel Dempsey

Assembly Elections: 2017

Contents: 1. Background 2. Main parties 1998 to 2017 3. Candidates and MLAs 4. Results 5. Turnout 6. NI Assembly 1998 to 2017 7. 2017 Assembly Members

www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary 2 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2017

Contents

Summary 3 1. Background 4 How many representatives are elected? 4 What is the system used to elect MLAs? 4 What is a petition of concern? 5 2. Main parties 1998 to 2017 6 3. Candidates and MLAs 9 4. Results 10 5. Turnout 12 6. NI Assembly 1998 to 2017 13 7. 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly Members 15

Tables and underlying data in this briefing paper are available as Excel files via: http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7920

Abbreviations: Alliance - Alliance Party of Northern Ireland DUP – Democratic Unionist Party MLA – Member of the Legislative Assembly SDLP – Social Democratic & Labour Party TUV – Traditional Unionist Voice UKIP – UK Independence Party UK Unionists – UK Unionist Party UUP – Ulster Unionist Party … - not applicable

All data on the 2 March 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly elections in this briefing paper have been sourced from The Electoral Office of Northern Ireland, NI Assembly Elections 2 March 2017 unless stated otherwise.

Cover page image: Stormont Parliament attributed to EHRENBERG Kommunikation – licenced under CCA Share-Alike 2.0 Generic, image cropped.

3 Commons Library Briefing, 9 March 2017

Summary

The Northern Ireland Assembly elections on 2 March 2017 took place just 301 days since the previous elections. The resignation of the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, on 9 January 2017 set in train a sequence of statutory provisions that has led to an early election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The March 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections were conducted with the Single Transferrable Vote system. 90 Members were elected, 5 for each of the 18 constituencies; previously 108 Members were elected. The DUP remained the largest party in the Assembly with 28 MLAs (31.1% of seats) although they no longer have enough MLAs to unilaterally use a “petition of concern” (a blocking mechanism) in the Assembly. Sinn Féin is the second largest party with 27 MLAs (30% of seats). The UUP lost their position as the third largest party in the Assembly (a position they had held since 2007) and was replaced by the SDLP. The Alliance party kept the same number of seats as they had in 2016 although their share of total seats increased. 27 women were elected to the Assembly; 30% of MLAs are women, the highest proportion ever. The turnout was 64% (based on valid votes), higher than any previous Assembly election since 1998. Northern Ireland Assembly elections: 2017

Seats won 1st Preference votes

Change Change from 2016 from 2016 2017 % of seats % pts Number % of votes % pts

DUP 28 31.1% -4.1% 225,413 28.1% -1.1% Sinn Féin 27 30.0% +4.1% 224,245 27.9% +3.9% SDLP 12 13.3% +2.2% 95,958 11.9% -0.1% UUP 10 11.1% -3.7% 103,314 12.9% +0.3% Alliance 8 8.9% +1.5% 72,717 9.1% +2.1% PBPA 1 1.1% -0.7% 14,100 1.8% -0.2% TUV 1 1.1% +0.2% 20,523 2.6% -0.9% Green Party 2 2.2% +0.4% 18,527 2.3% -0.4% Other 1 1.1% +0.2% 28,518 3.6% -3.6% Total 90 100.0% 803,315 100.0%

4 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2017

1. Background

The Northern Ireland Assembly elections on 2 March 2017 took place just 301 days from the previous elections. The resignation of the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, on 9 January 2017 set in train a sequence of statutory provisions that has led to an early election to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Mr McGuinness’s resignation was in protest at the conduct of the First Minister, of the DUP. His resignation letter sets out his reasons in detail. They pertain mainly to Ms Foster’s reaction to criticism over her role in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) energy subsidy scheme, which has led to significant costs to the taxpayer and criticism from the Northern Ireland Audit Office.1 Further information on the reasons why Martin McGuinness resigned and the statutory provisions which has led to the election can be found in the House of Commons Library brief note entitled Northern Ireland: resignation of Deputy First Minister. How many representatives are elected? There are 90 Members of the Assembly (MLAs); 5 for each of the 18 constituencies in Northern Ireland. These areas are the same as the current constituencies used to elect the 18 Northern Ireland Members of the UK Parliament. A party standing in an Assembly election can put forward as many candidates as it wants per constituency. Previously under the Belfast Agreement and Northern Ireland Act 1998 there were 108 member assembly with constituencies aligned to Northern Ireland Westminster Parliamentary constituencies. Each constituency elected 6 MLAs using the Single Transferable Vote system. As a result of the Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 the number of MLAs would be reduced from 108 to 90 at the next election after the election on 5 May 2016. The Northern Ireland Assembly briefing paper Assembly Members (Reduction of Numbers) Bill 2016 provides further detail. What is the system used to elect MLAs? Under the system of Single Transferrable Vote, voters have as many preferences as there are candidates. They mark the candidates 1, 2, 3 etc. in order of preference. Voters do not have to state a preference for all candidates – they can choose as many or as few as they like. A candidate is elected as soon as they reach the ‘quota’ computed according to a particular formula, known as the ‘Droop Quota’:

= + 1 + 1 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞 � � 𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆

1 Paul Bowers, House of Commons Library, Northern Ireland: resignation of Deputy First Minister, January 5 Commons Library Briefing, 9 March 2017

For Northern Ireland Assembly elections, the top line of this formula is the total number of valid ballot papers; the bottom line is six (five seats per constituency plus one). A candidate who has reached or exceeded the quota is deemed elected. Any surplus votes are then redistributed fractionally to the other candidates on the basis of the second choices expressed by electors. The same operation is carried out in the case of candidates placed last, who are eliminated. If there are still seats to be filled after the second count, the process continues.

STV in practice: 1. The ballot paper lists the names of the candidates from each party. Voters put a ‘1’ next to the name of their favoured candidate, a ‘2’ next to the name of their next favoured candidate and so on. They stop when they cannot decide between the candidates – they do not need to vote for them all.

2. The number of votes which candidates need to be elected (the ‘quota’) is calculated by dividing the total number of valid ballot papers by the number of people to be elected plus one

3. The ballot papers are sorted into piles according to the first preferences. If any candidate has more first preference votes than the quota, they are elected.

4. The next stage is to transfer any surplus votes for these elected candidates, i.e. the difference between their vote and the quota needed to be elected. To avoid the problem of deciding which of the votes are surplus, all ballot papers are transferred but at a reduced value so that the total adds up to the number of surplus votes.

5. After all the surpluses have been transferred, more candidates might have achieved the quota to be elected. If they have not, then the candidate with the fewest votes is excluded and their votes are transferred to the voters’ second preferences.

6. This process of transferring surpluses and excluding candidates continues until enough candidates have reached the quota to fill all the places to be elected.

Adapted from: Electoral Reform Society, What is STV?

What is a petition of concern? A petition of concern is a mechanism within the Assembly which allows a group of at least 30 MLAs to block a decision of the Assembly. In such cases, a vote on proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority (60%) of members voting, including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting. A petition of concern can be used regardless of subject matter.2

2 Gareth Gordon, BBC, Petitions of concern: Is Stormont’s safeguard system being abused?, 9 July 2013. Democratic Unionist Party

• In 2017, the DUP Summary 1998 to 2017 retained its position 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 as the largest party in the Assembly Seats No. 20 30 36 38 38 28 which it had been % 18.5% 27.8% 33.3% 35.2% 35.2% 31.1% since 2003. 1st pref votes No. 146,917 177,944 207,721 198,436 202,567 225,413 % 18.1% 25.3% 30.1% 30.0% 29.2% 28.1% • In 2017, DUP Women MLAs No. 1 3 3 5 8 6 candidates had % 5% 10% 8% 13% 21% 21% 28.1% of first preference votes, down slightly on 2011 and 2016. Seats % 1st pref votes % 40% • Just over 1 in 5 (21%) of DUP MLAs 30% are women; the same proportion as 20% in 2016. This is the 10% second lowest ratio of the five main 0% parties. 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017

Sinn Féin

• In 2017, Sinn Féin Summary 1998 to 2017 remained the second 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 largest party in the Assembly. Sinn Féin Seats No. 18 24 28 29 28 27 increased its % 16.7% 22.2% 25.9% 26.9% 25.9% 30.0% proportion of seats 1st pref votes No. 142,858 162,758 180,573 178,222 166,785 224,245 by 4.1% points. % 17.6% 23.2% 26.2% 26.9% 24.0% 27.9% Women MLAs No. 5 9 8 8 10 11 • Sinn Féin's 27.9% % 28% 38% 29% 28% 36% 41% share of first preference votes was 3.9% points higher than in 2016. Seats % 1st pref votes % 40% • 11 of Sinn Féin's MLAs are women 30% (41%); this is 5% points higher than in 20% 2016. 10%

0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Social Democratic & Labour Party

• The proportion of Summary 1998 to 2017 seats won by the 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 SDLP increased to 13.3% (2.2% points Seats No. 24 18 16 14 12 12 higher than in 2016). % 22.2% 16.7% 14.8% 13.0% 11.1% 13.3% 1st pref votes No. 177,963 117,547 105,164 94,286 83,364 95,958 • The SDLP's share % 22.0% 16.7% 15.2% 14.2% 12.0% 11.9% of first preference Women MLAs No. 3 4 3 3 3 4 votes remained % 13% 22% 19% 21% 25% 33% broadly similar to 2016 at 11.9% (a decrease of 0.1% points). Seats % 1st pref votes % 40% • A third of SDLP MLAs are women 30% (33%). This is an increase on 2016 20% and the highest 10% proportion ever. 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017

Ulster Unionist Party

Summary 1998 to 2017 • In 2017, the UUP won 11% of seats; 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 the lowest share of seats the party has Seats No. 28 27 18 16 16 10 ever won. % 25.9% 25.0% 16.7% 14.8% 14.8% 11.1% 1st pref votes No. 172,225 156,931 103,145 87,531 87,302 103,314 • The UUP's share of % 21.3% 22.3% 14.9% 13.2% 12.6% 12.9% first preference votes Women MLAs No. 2 1 0 2 4 1 remained broadly % 7% 4% 0% 13% 25% 10% similar to 2016, at 12.9% (an increase of 0.3% points). Seats % 1st pref votes %

• The UUP has the 40% lowest proportion of women MLAs of the 30% main parties (10%). 20%

10%

0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Alliance Party

• The proportion of Summary 1998 to 2017 seats won by the 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Alliance Party increased to 8.9% Seats No. 6 6 7 8 8 8 (1.5% points higher % 5.6% 5.6% 6.5% 7.4% 7.4% 8.9% than in 2016). 1st pref votes No. 52,636 25,372 36,139 50,875 48,447 72,717 % 6.5% 3.6% 5.2% 7.7% 7.0% 9.1% • The Alliance Party's Women MLAs No. 1 2 2 2 3 3 share of first % 17% 33% 29% 25% 38% 38% preference votes was 9.1% (an increase of 2.1% points on 2016). Seats % 1st pref votes % 40% • 38% of Alliance party MLAs are 30% women, the same proportion as in 20% 2016. 10%

0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 9 Commons Library Briefing, 9 March 2017

Proportion of female 3. Candidates and MLAs candidates

228 candidates stood in the 2017 Assembly elections. 69 (30.3%) of DUP the candidates were women. The percentage of women candidates rose 50% for all the main parties (except Sinn Féin) and overall was 2.8% points 40% higher than at the election in May 2016. The number of women MLAs 30% after the 2017 election rose in line with the number of candidates so 20% that 30% of MLAs are women. The proportion of women candidates 10% and MLAs were higher in 2017 than ever before. The number of 0% women MLAs fell but less than the overall reduction in MLAs. 2016 2017

Gender of candidates and MLAs: 1998-2017 Sinn Féin 50% Men Women Men % Women % 40% 30% Candidates 20% 1998 249 47 84% 16% 10% 2003 207 49 81% 19% 0% 2007 209 47 82% 18% 2016 2017 2011 180 38 83% 17% SDLP 2016 200 76 72% 28% 50% 2017 159 69 70% 30% 40% Members 30% 1998 94 14 87% 13% 20% 2003 90 18 83% 17% 10% 2007 90 18 83% 17% 0% 2016 2017 2011 88 20 81% 19% 2016 78 30 72% 28% UUP 2017 63 27 70% 30% 50% 40% Note: MLAs are at election; no account is taken of substitutions between elections. 30% Sources: 20% Thrasher & Rallings, British Electoral Facts 1832-2012 10% CAIN Web Service, University of Ulster, Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland 0% NIA, Election Report: Northern Ireland Assembly Election 5 May 2016 2016 2017 EONI, NI Assembly Elections 2 March 2017 Alliance Of the main parties, the Alliance Party had the largest percentage point 50% increase in the proportion of female candidates (12.8% points) between 40% 2016 and 2017. The SDLP increased their proportion of female 30% candidates by 4.8% points, the UUP by 3.8% points, and the DUP by 20% 2.9% points. Sinn Féin had a 0.3% point decrease in the proportion of female candidates. 10% 0% 13 of the MLAs elected in 2017 had not been Members in the previous 2016 2017 Assembly; this is less than in May 2016 when there had been 37 newly- elected MLAs.

10 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2017

4. Results

The three tables below summarise the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections. They show the number of candidates by party, seat distribution, and first preference votes.

NI Assembly election results, 2 March 2017

Seats won 1st Preference votes

Change Change from 2016 from 2016 Candidates 2017 % of seats % pts Number % of votes % pts

DUP 38 28 31.1% -4.1% 225,413 28.1% -1.1% Sinn Féin 34 27 30.0% +4.1% 224,245 27.9% +3.9% SDLP 21 12 13.3% +2.2% 95,958 11.9% -0.1% UUP 24 10 11.1% -3.7% 103,314 12.9% +0.3% Alliance 21 8 8.9% +1.5% 72,717 9.1% +2.1% PBPA 7 1 1.1% -0.7% 14,100 1.8% -0.2% TUV 14 1 1.1% +0.2% 20,523 2.6% -0.9% Green Party 18 2 2.2% +0.4% 18,527 2.3% -0.4% Other 51 1 1.1% +0.2% 28,518 3.6% -3.6% Total 228 90 100.0% 803,315 100.0%

NI Assembly seats by party and constituency, 2 March 2017

DUP SF SDLP UUP All. PBPA TUV Green Other

Belfast East 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 Belfast North 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Belfast South 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 Belfast West 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 East Antrim 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 East Londonderry 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Foyle 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lagan Valley 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Mid Ulster 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 and Armagh 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 North Antrim 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 North Down 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 South Antrim 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 South Down 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Strangford 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Upper Bann 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 West Tyrone 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Total seats 28 27 12 10 8 1 1 2 1 % of seats 31.1% 30.0% 13.3% 11.1% 8.9% 1.1% 1.1% 2.2% 1.1%

11 Commons Library Briefing, 9 March 2017

NI Assembly votes by party and constituency, 2 March 2017

DUP Sinn Féin SDLP UUP Alliance OTH Total

First preference votes Belfast East 15,167 1,173 250 5,275 12,669 5,823 40,357 Belfast North 13,309 12,204 5,431 2,418 3,487 4,637 41,486 Belfast South 8,975 7,610 8,353 3,863 7,648 6,604 43,053 Belfast West 4,063 24,931 3,452 486 747 6,665 40,344 East Antrim 13,164 3,701 1,524 8,498 5,996 4,541 37,424 East Londonderry 14,040 10,804 3,319 2,814 1,841 9,055 41,873 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 15,581 22,008 5,134 6,060 1,437 2,043 52,263 Foyle 5,975 16,350 14,188 1,660 1,124 5,319 44,616 Lagan Valley 18,614 1,801 3,795 11,338 6,105 3,416 45,069 Mid Ulster 9,568 26,207 6,419 4,516 1,017 1,951 49,678 Newry and Armagh 9,760 26,532 8,983 7,256 1,418 969 54,918 North Antrim 19,540 7,600 3,519 6,022 2,616 8,797 48,094 North Down 14,152 591 679 8,115 7,014 7,188 37,739 South Antrim 14,278 6,891 4,024 8,792 5,278 3,081 42,344 South Down 7,786 19,083 12,433 4,172 4,535 1,390 49,399 Strangford 15,492 1,110 3,045 7,776 5,813 5,549 38,785 Upper Bann 16,885 14,328 5,127 10,599 2,720 1,889 51,548 West Tyrone 9,064 21,321 6,283 3,654 1,252 2,751 44,325 Share of first preference votes Belfast East 37.6% 2.9% 0.6% 13.1% 31.4% 14.4% 100% Belfast North 32.1% 29.4% 13.1% 5.8% 8.4% 11.2% 100% Belfast South 20.8% 17.7% 19.4% 9.0% 17.8% 15.3% 100% Belfast West 10.1% 61.8% 8.6% 1.2% 1.9% 16.5% 100% East Antrim 35.2% 9.9% 4.1% 22.7% 16.0% 12.1% 100% East Londonderry 33.5% 25.8% 7.9% 6.7% 4.4% 21.6% 100% Fermanagh and South Tyrone 29.8% 42.1% 9.8% 11.6% 2.7% 3.9% 100% Foyle 13.4% 36.6% 31.8% 3.7% 2.5% 11.9% 100% Lagan Valley 41.3% 4.0% 8.4% 25.2% 13.5% 7.6% 100% Mid Ulster 19.3% 52.8% 12.9% 9.1% 2.0% 3.9% 100% Newry and Armagh 17.8% 48.3% 16.4% 13.2% 2.6% 1.8% 100% North Antrim 40.6% 15.8% 7.3% 12.5% 5.4% 18.3% 100% North Down 37.5% 1.6% 1.8% 21.5% 18.6% 19.0% 100% South Antrim 33.7% 16.3% 9.5% 20.8% 12.5% 7.3% 100% South Down 15.8% 38.6% 25.2% 8.4% 9.2% 2.8% 100% Strangford 39.9% 2.9% 7.9% 20.0% 15.0% 14.3% 100% Upper Bann 32.8% 27.8% 9.9% 20.6% 5.3% 3.7% 100% West Tyrone 20.4% 48.1% 14.2% 8.2% 2.8% 6.2% 100%

Election Results: Detailed results for each constituency showing the full STV voting process (i.e. votes other than first preference) are available at:

EONI, NI Assembly Election 2017 Results Sheets

12 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2017

5. Turnout

Measured by the number of valid votes, average turnout across all constituencies increased by 9.8% points, from 54.2% in 2016 to 64% in 2017. The constituency with the largest increase in turnout was Mid Ulster (13.7% points), while the region with the smallest increase in turnout was Belfast East (5.7% points). The smallest turnout in 2017 was North Down (58.5%), while the largest turnout was Mid Ulster (71.6%). Turnout by constituency, 2 March 2017

% pt % pt 2017 change 2017 change

Belfast East 62.3% +5.7% Newry and Armagh 68.5% +10.2% Belfast North 60.8% +9.2% North Antrim 62.7% +10.3% Belfast South 63.4% +9.7% North Down 58.5% +9.5% Belfast West 65.8% +9.1% South Antrim 61.8% +11.4% East Antrim 59.5% +9.0% South Down 65.5% +12.4% East Londonderry 62.1% +12.0% Strangford 60.2% +10.5% Fermanagh and South Tyrone 71.5% +8.0% Upper Bann 61.8% +8.2% Foyle 64.0% +8.7% West Tyrone 69.0% +9.9% Lagan Valley 62.1% +9.4% Mid Ulster 71.6% +13.7% Northern Ireland 64.0% +9.8%

Note: Turnout calculated on valid votes as a proportion of the electorate.

2017 NI Assembly elections: turnout by constituency

13 Commons Library Briefing, 9 March 2017

6. NI Assembly 1998 to 2017

Assembly seats by party, 1998 to 2017 Percentage of seats DUP 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 40% 30%

Number of seats 20%

DUP 20 30 36 38 38 28 10% Sinn Féin 18 24 28 29 28 27 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 SDLP 24 18 16 14 12 12 UUP 28 27 18 16 16 10 Sinn Féin Alliance 6 6 7 8 8 8 40% UK Unionists 5 1 0 ... … … 30% PUP 2 1 1 0 0 0 20% PBPA ...... 0 0 2 1 10% TUV ...... 1 1 1 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 UKIP ...... 0 0 0 SDLP Green Party 0 0 1 1 2 2 40% Others 5 1 1 1 1 1 30% Total 108 108 108 108 108 90 20%

10% % of seats 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 DUP 18.5% 27.8% 33.3% 35.2% 35.2% 31.1% Sinn Féin 16.7% 22.2% 25.9% 26.9% 25.9% 30.0% UUP SDLP 22.2% 16.7% 14.8% 13.0% 11.1% 13.3% 40% UUP 25.9% 25.0% 16.7% 14.8% 14.8% 11.1% 30% Alliance 5.6% 5.6% 6.5% 7.4% 7.4% 8.9% 20% UK Unionists 4.6% 0.9% 0.0% ...... 10%

PUP 1.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 PBPA ...... 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% 1.1% TUV ...... 0.9% 0.9% 1.1% Alliance UKIP ...... 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 40% Green Party 0.0% 0.0% 0.9% 0.9% 1.9% 2.2% 30% Others 4.6% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 1.1% 20% 10% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 0% Source: 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Thrasher & Rallings, British Electoral Facts 1832-2012 NIA, Election Report: Northern Ireland Assembly Election 5 May 2016 EONI, NI Assembly Elections 2 March 2017

14 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2017

First preference votes by party, 1998 to 2017 Percentage of votes

1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 DUP 40%

First preference votes 30%

DUP 146,917 177,944 207,721 198,436 202,567 225,413 20% Sinn Féin 142,858 162,758 180,573 178,222 166,785 224,245 10% SDLP 177,963 117,547 105,164 94,286 83,364 95,958 0% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 UUP 172,225 156,931 103,145 87,531 87,302 103,314 Sinn Féin Alliance 52,636 25,372 36,139 50,875 48,447 72,717 40% UK Unionists 36,541 5,700 10,452 ...... 30% PUP 20,634 8,032 3,822 1,493 5,955 5,590 20% PBPA ...... 774 5,438 13,761 14,100 10% TUV ...... 16,480 23,776 20,523 0% UKIP ...... 4,152 10,109 1,579 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Green Party 510 2,688 11,985 6,031 18,718 18,527 SDLP

Others 59,961 45,277 30,538 18,790 33,526 21,349 40%

Total 810,245 702,249 690,313 661,734 694,310 803,315 30%

20%

% of first preference votes 10%

0% DUP 18.1% 25.3% 30.1% 30.0% 29.2% 28.1% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Sinn Féin 17.6% 23.2% 26.2% 26.9% 24.0% 27.9% UUP SDLP 22.0% 16.7% 15.2% 14.2% 12.0% 11.9% 40% UUP 21.3% 22.3% 14.9% 13.2% 12.6% 12.9% 30% Alliance 6.5% 3.6% 5.2% 7.7% 7.0% 9.1% 20% UK Unionists 4.5% 0.8% 1.5% ...... 10% PUP 2.5% 1.1% 0.6% 0.2% 0.9% 0.7% 0% PBPA ...... 0.1% 0.8% 2.0% 1.8% 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017

TUV ...... 2.5% 3.4% 2.6% Alliance

UKIP ...... 0.6% 1.5% 0.2% 40%

Green Party 0.1% 0.4% 1.8% 0.9% 2.7% 2.3% 30%

Others 7.4% 6.4% 4.4% 2.8% 4.8% 2.7% 20%

Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 10% 0% Source: 1998 2003 2007 2011 2016 2017 Thrasher & Rallings, British Electoral Facts 1832-2012 NIA, Election Report: Northern Ireland Assembly Election 5 May 2016 EONI, NI Assembly Elections 2 March 2017

2017 Assembly Members by constituency and party

Constituency Name Party

Belfast East Andy Allen UUP Belfast East Chris Lyttle Alliance Belfast East DUP Belfast East Alliance Belfast East DUP

Belfast North Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin Belfast North Sinn Féin Belfast North SDLP Belfast North DUP Belfast North William Humphrey DUP

Belfast South DUP Belfast South SDLP Belfast South Clare Bailey Green Party Belfast South Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Sinn Féin Belfast South Paula Bradshaw Alliance

Belfast West Sinn Féin Belfast West Fra McCann Sinn Féin Belfast West Gerry Carroll PBPA Belfast West Órlaithí Flynn Sinn Féin Belfast West Pat Sheehan Sinn Féin

East Antrim DUP East Antrim DUP East Antrim John Stewart UUP East Antrim Roy Beggs UUP East Antrim Stewart Dickson Alliance

East Londonderry Sinn Féin East Londonderry Claire Sugden Other East Londonderry George Robinson DUP East Londonderry SDLP East Londonderry DUP

Fermanagh and South Tyrone Arlene Foster DUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin Fermanagh and South Tyrone Rosemary Barton UUP Fermanagh and South Tyrone Seán Lynch Sinn Féin

Foyle SDLP Foyle Elisha McCallion Sinn Féin Foyle DUP Foyle Mark H Durkan SDLP Foyle Raymond McCartney Sinn Féin

Lagan Valley DUP Lagan Valley SDLP Lagan Valley DUP Lagan Valley Robbie Butler UUP Lagan Valley Trevor Lunn Alliance Constituency Name Party

Mid Ulster Sinn Féin Mid Ulster DUP Mid Ulster Sinn Féin Mid Ulster Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin Mid Ulster Patsy McGlone SDLP

Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty SDLP Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh William Irwin DUP

North Antrim Jim Allister TUV North Antrim DUP North Antrim DUP North Antrim Philip McGuigan Sinn Féin North Antrim Robin Swann UUP

North Down Alan Chambers UUP North Down DUP North Down DUP North Down Stephen Farry Alliance North Down Steven Agnew Green Party

South Antrim David Ford Alliance South Antrim Sinn Féin South Antrim DUP South Antrim DUP South Antrim Stephen Aiken UUP

South Down Sinn Féin South Down Colin McGrath SDLP South Down Jim Wells DUP South Down Sinéad Bradley SDLP South Down Sinéad Ennis Sinn Féin

Strangford Kellie Armstrong Alliance Strangford Michelle McIlveen DUP Strangford Mike Nesbitt UUP Strangford DUP Strangford DUP

Upper Bann DUP Upper Bann SDLP Upper Bann Doug Beattie UUP Upper Bann John O'Dowd Sinn Féin Upper Bann DUP

West Tyrone Barry McElduff Sinn Féin West Tyrone Daniel McCrossan SDLP West Tyrone Declan McAleer Sinn Féin West Tyrone Michaela Boyle Sinn Féin West Tyrone Thomas Buchanan DUP

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