TURNOUT of the Isle of Wight Council's 2021 election was down on previous years — with more than 70,000 eligible Islanders choosing not to vote at all.

Falling by nearly four per cent, voter turnout in this year's election was 36.93 per cent — with 41,002 votes being accepted and 349 ballot papers rejected for either being want of an official mark; voting for more than one candidate; writing or marking the paper which meant the voter could be identified or being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty.

Out of an electorate of 111,885 people, more than 70,500 did not vote this year.

Of all the votes cast, the Conservative party got the most, with 38.6 per cent ( 15,825 votes), but were still unable to hold enough seats for a majority over the council.

Here is how all groups fared and what percentage of the vote they received:

  • Conservatives: 15,825 (38.6 per cent)
  • Independents: 10,039 (24.5 per cent)
  • Labour: 4,760 (11.6 per cent)
  • Green Party: 4,541 (11.1 per cent)
  • Liberal Democrats: 2,139 (5.2 per cent)
  • Our Island: 1,427 (3.5 per cent)
  • Island Independent Network: 1,327 (3.2 per cent)
  • Vectis Party: 886 (2.2 per cent)

Compared to the votes for 2017, where the Conservatives managed to secure 25 seats and the majority, they lost 2,552 votes in the latest election — a swing of -2.7 per cent

Grouping all of the Independent candidates, including from the Island Independent Network, there was a downwards swing of votes of 0.5 per cent, losing 1,142 votes compared to 2017.

Gaining one seat in 2021 means the Labour party now has an official councillor at County Hall. It is also the only party to have an upwards swing of votes, gaining 1.9 per cent more of the votes in 2021 than in 2017.

Labour received only 9.7 per cent four years ago, growing to 11.6 per cent this time, although it still was not enough to secure a second representative on the Isle of Wight Council — and left 27 beaten candidates.

The Green Party, going from zero to two councillors representing the group, received 1,056 fewer votes than the previous local authority elections — a 1.5 per cent downward swing, falling from 12.6 per cent of the Island's vote to 11.1 per cent.

The Liberal Democrats lost one of its two seats during this round of elections as well as 636 votes. The group also lost one per cent of its voter popularity — swinging down to 5.2 per cent.

The highest turnout in all the wards of the Isle of Wight Council was for the seat of Chale, Niton and Shorwell - which was only a two-horse race between the Conservatives, who were trying to retain the seat, and the Greens, who ultimately came up trumps.

Out of an electorate of 2,986, 1,530 ballot papers were issued — a 50.33 per cent turnout — 876 votes for Cllr Claire Critchison and 636 for the former leader of the council, Dave Stewart, with 18 ballots unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty.

The lowest turnout overall was in Ryde South East where only 389 ballot papers were issued to people, out of a possible 1,750 — 22.23 per cent.

The winning candidate, Conservative's Warren Drew, only got 112 votes to secure his place on the Isle of Wight Council, with the other four candidates standing getting between 78 and 64 votes.

What was the turnout in your area?

Bembridge: 43.25%

Binstead and Fishbourne: 44.28%

Brading and St Helens: 40.27%

Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleey: 48.77%

Carisbrooke and Gunville: 35%

Central Rural: 37.32%

Chale, Niton and Shorwell: 50.33%

Cowes Medina: 31.41%

Cowes North: 40.97%

Cowes South and Northwood: 39.89%

Cowes West and Gurnard: 49.09%

East Cowes: 41.99%

Fairlee and Whippingham: 35.51%

Freshwater North and Yarmouth: 41.43%

Freshwater South: 38.94%

Haylands and Swanmore: 33.13%

Lake North: 31.86%

Lake South: 37.09%

Mountjoy and Shide: 30.03%

Nettlestone and Seaview: 47.15%

Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey: 41.06%

Newport Central: 26.29%

Newport West: 30.60%

Osborne: 29.23%

Pan and Barton: 23.80%

Parkhurst and Hunnyhill: 27.62%

Ryde, Appley and Elmfield: 34.77%

Ryde Monktonmead: 30.18%

Ryde North West: 34.93%

Ryde South East: 22.23%

Ryde West: 35.07%

Sandown North: 35.02%

Sandown South: 29.88%

Shanklin Central: 34.98%

Shanklin South: 35.96%

Totland and Colwell: 43.57%

Ventnor and St Lawrence: 39.99%

Wootton Bridge: 39.73%

Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch: 41.43%