title: Hertfordshire County Council elections
text: # Hertfordshire County Council elections
  
  Hertfordshire County Council in England is elected every four years. Since the last boundary changes took effect in 2017 there have been 78 electoral divisions electing one councillor each.
  
  ## Elections
  
  Summary of the council composition, click on the year for full details of each election.
  
  | Year | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrats | Green | BNP | Independent | Council control after election | Notes |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1973 | 35 | 33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | No overall control | |
  | 1977 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Conservative | |
  | 1981 | 43 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Conservative | New ward boundaries |
  | 1985 | 36 | 27 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
  | 1989 | 45 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | |
  | 1993 | 27 | 30 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | No overall control | |
  | 1997 | 38 | 30 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No overall control | |
  | 2001 | 40 | 27 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | New ward boundaries |
  | 2005 | 46 | 16 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | |
  | 2009 | 55 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Conservative | |
  | 2013 | 46 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | |
  | 2017 | 51 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Conservative | New ward boundaries |
  | 2021 | 46 | 7 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Conservative | |
  
  ### Result maps
  
  * 2001 results map
  * 2005 results map
  * 2009 results map
  * 2013 results map
  * 2017 results map
  * 2021 results map
  
  ## By-election results
  
  By-elections are held for any vacancies that arise between elections.
  
  ### 1993–1997
  
  Cheshunt West By-Election 18 July 1996 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Gerald Game | 1,067 | 62.0 |
  | | Labour | Sylvia Courtnage | 424 | 24.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Henry Appiah | 231 | 13.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 643 | 37.4 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,722 | 14.83 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  Kings Langley By-Election 26 September 1996 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,406 | 50.9 |
  | | Labour | | 1,083 | 39.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 273 | 9.9 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 323 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,762 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | |
  
  ### 1997–2001
  
  South East Hemel Hempstead By-Election 10 June 1999 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,842 | 47.8 | +12.6 |
  | | Labour | | 1,642 | 42.1 | -6.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 388 | 10.1 | -6.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 218 | 5.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,854 | 34.0 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  Hitchin North East By-Election 17 February 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 1,399 | 50.6 | -4.8 |
  | | Conservative | | 1,106 | 40.1 | +12.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 166 | 6.0 | -11.0 |
  | | Natural Law | | 95 | 3.4 | +3.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 293 | 10.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,766 | 24.9 | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  Offa By-Election 13 April 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,293 | 51.7 | +11.3 |
  | | Labour | | 941 | 37.6 | -5.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 240 | 9.6 | -6.9 |
  | | Natural Law | | 27 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 352 | 14.1 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,501 | 27.9 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  Bushey Heath By-Election 4 May 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,590 | 60.3 | +5.1 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 808 | 30.7 | +3.6 |
  | | Labour | | 237 | 9.0 | -8.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 782 | 29.6 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,635 | 32.7 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Shephall By-Election 4 May 2000 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 1,434 | 65.6 | +5.1 |
  | | Conservative | | 482 | 22.0 | -1.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 270 | 12.4 | +0.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 952 | 43.6 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,186 | 23.5 | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2001–2005
  
  St. Albans North By-Election 12 July 2001 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | | 1,445 | 41.3 | +3.9 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 1,113 | 31.8 | -0.2 |
  | | Conservative | | 912 | 26.1 | -4.5 |
  | | Independent | | 25 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 332 | 9.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,495 | 34.7 | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  Meriden Tudor By-Election 28 November 2002 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Audrey Oaten | 1,413 | 51.0 | +35.1 |
  | | Labour | Geoffrey O'Connell | 817 | 29.5 | -14.6 |
  | | Conservative | Richard Southern | 472 | 17.0 | -15.8 |
  | | Green | Ian West | 70 | 2.5 | -0.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 596 | 21.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,772 | 27.7 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  Hatfield South By-Election 19 June 2003 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,246 | 48.8 | +11.5 |
  | | Labour | | 933 | 36.6 | -8.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 372 | 14.6 | -3.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 313 | 12.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,551 | 26.8 | |
  | | Conservative gain from Labour | Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | | |
  
  Kings Langley By-Election 18 September 2003 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,851 | 59.9 | +8.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 625 | 20.2 | +2.3 |
  | | Labour | | 614 | 19.9 | -5.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,226 | 39.7 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,090 | 30.2 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Hertford All Saints By-Election 5 February 2004 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | | 1,064 | 52.5 | +11.4 |
  | | Labour | | 559 | 27.6 | -5.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | | 403 | 19.9 | -5.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 505 | 24.9 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,026 | 21.8 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2005–2009
  
  Shephall By-Election 15 September 2005 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | John Lloyd | 1,144 | 45.5 | -5.5 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Elisabeth Knight | 994 | 39.6 | +18.8 |
  | | Conservative | Ralph Dimelow | 374 | 14.9 | -13.3 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 150 | 5.9 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,512 | 28.1 | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  Knebworth and Codicote By-Election 22 June 2006 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Richard Thake | 1,759 | 69.7 | +14.4 |
  | | Labour | Joseph McWalter | 322 | 12.7 | -5.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Debra Wilkins | 310 | 12.3 | -7.0 |
  | | Green | Stuart Madgin | 133 | 5.2 | -1.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,437 | 57.0 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,524 | 23.0 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Harpenden South West By-Election 7 February 2008 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Teresa Heritage | 2,161 | 66.6 | +10.4 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Alison Steer | 819 | 25.3 | -0.4 |
  | | Labour | Linda Spiri | 153 | 4.7 | -7.2 |
  | | Green | Annette Tate | 110 | 3.4 | -2.8 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,342 | 41.3 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,243 | 30.2 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Bedwell By-Election 27 March 2008 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Sharon Taylor | 1,452 | 56.5 | +1.0 |
  | | Conservative | Leslie Clark | 625 | 24.3 | -0.6 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Len Lambert | 329 | 12.8 | -6.8 |
  | | UKIP | Rick Seddon | 165 | 6.4 | +6.4 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 827 | 32.2 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,571 | 29.0 | |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2009–2013
  
  Borehamwood North By-Election 22 October 2009 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Alan Plancey | 982 | 44.5 | +5.5 |
  | | Labour | Leon Reefe | 928 | 42.1 | +13.2 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Robert Gamble | 170 | 7.7 | -4.6 |
  | | Independent | Frank Ward | 125 | 5.7 | -0.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 54 | 2.4 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,205 | 18.5 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  St Albans South By-Election 3 June 2010 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Martin Frearson | 1,482 | 42.1 | +2.6 |
  | | Conservative | Salih Gaygusuz | 1,250 | 35.5 | +4.1 |
  | | Labour | Iain Grant | 540 | 15.3 | -0.1 |
  | | Green | Kate Metcalf | 249 | 7.1 | -6.7 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 232 | 6.6 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,521 | 33.1 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
  
  Bishops Stortford West By-Election 5 May 2011 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Colin Bernard Woodward | 2,483 | 52.7% | +7.6% |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Robert Ian Taylor | 1,256 | 26.6% | +0.6% |
  | | Labour | Alexander Julian Young | 977 | 20.7% | +10.5% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,227 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,716 | | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  At the preceding election there had also been candidates for the British National Party (307 votes, 8.0%) and for the Green Party (392 votes, 10.3%).
  
  Waltham Cross By-Election 22 March 2012 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Dee Hart | 1,389 | 56.44 | +14.54 |
  | | Labour | Malcolm Aitken | 837 | 34.01 | +6.91 |
  | | UKIP | Albert Nicholas | 159 | 6.46 | +6.46 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Peter Huse | 76 | 3.09 | -10.51 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 552 | 22.43 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,461 | 22.88 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Meriden Tudor By-Election 3 May 2012 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Kareen Mary Hastrick | 1231 | 40.2 | -3.3% |
  | | Labour | Diana Mary Ivory | 791 | 25.8 | +13.1% |
  | | Conservative | Richard Lloyd Vaughan Southern | 534 | 17.4 | -10.2% |
  | | UKIP | Nicholas Richard Lincoln | 351 | 11.5 | n/a |
  | | Green | Paula Mary Evelyn Broadhurst | 154 | 5.0 | -2.5% |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 440 | 12.6% | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3061 | 33.5 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |
  
  Election caused by the resignation of previous incumbent.
  
  Hemel Hempstead Town By-Election 21 June 2012 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | William Wyatt-Lowe | 1413 | 47.8 | -3.0 |
  | | Labour | Mike Bromberg | 693 | 23.5 | +8.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Chris Angell | 456 | 15.4 | -5.8 |
  | | Green | Paul Harris | 180 | 6.1 | -7.2 |
  | | UKIP | Howard Koch | 151 | 5.1 | +5.1 |
  | | Independent | Rodney Tucker | 61 | 2.1 | +2.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 720 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | 23.8 | |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Election caused by the resignation of previous incumbent. Percentage change is since June 2009.
  
  ### 2013–2017
  
  Hitchin North By-Election 12 September 2013 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour Co-op | Judi Candida BILLING | 1250 | 47.8 | +1.8 |
  | | Conservative | Alan MILLARD | 673 | 25.7 | -7.0 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Lisa Victoria COURTS | 246 | 9.4 | +2.8 |
  | | UKIP | John Finbarr BARRY | 235 | 9.0 | +9.0 |
  | | Green | Gavin NICHOLSON | 212 | 8.1 | -6.6 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 577 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2621 | 22.42 | |
  | | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |
  
  Caused by the death of the previous incumbent.
  
  ### 2017–2021
  
  Council leader and Conservative councillor Robert Gordon CBE (Goffs Oak and Bury Green) died in October 2017. The seat was held for the Conservatives by Lesley Greensmith in the by-election on 22 February 2018.
  
  Goffs Oak & Bury Green By Election 22 February 2018 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Conservative | Lesley Greensmyth | 1,390 | 59.6 | -5.3 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | David Payne | 482 | 20.7 | +14.9 |
  | | Labour | Selina Norgrove | 393 | 16.8 | -0.8 |
  | | Green | Sally Kemp | 69 | 3.0 | N/A |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,536 | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,334 | 19 | -8 |
  | | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |
  
  Liberal Democrat councillor Charlotte Hogg (St Albans North) resigned from the council in March 2018. A by-election was held on 3 May, where Roma Mills from the Labour Party captured the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
  
  St Albans North By-Election 3 May 2018 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Roma Mills | 1,779 | 36.6 | +2.8 |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Karen Young | 1,460 | 30.1 | -5.2 |
  | | Conservative | Salih Gaygusuz | 1,361 | 28.0 | +1.9 |
  | | Green | Simon Grover | 258 | 5.3 | +2.2 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 319 | 6.5 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,858 | 48 | |
  | | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Labour gain from Liberal Democrats | Swing | | |
  
  Three Rivers Rural By-Election 25 October 2018 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Phil Williams | 1,846 | 53.4 | +9.6 |
  | | Conservative | Angela Killick | 1,315 | 38.0 | -9.0 |
  | | Labour | Jenni Gillet | 144 | 4.2 | ±0.0 |
  | | UKIP | David Bennett | 86 | 2.5 | +0.6 |
  | | Green | Roan Alder | 68 | 2.0 | -1.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,463 | 30 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |
  
  ### 2021 - Present
  
  Hitchin South: 10 March 2022 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal Democrats | Keith Hoskins | 2,401 | 71.7 | +34.0 |
  | | Conservative | Claire Strong | 690 | 20.6 | -16.3 |
  | | Green | Deolinda Eltringham | 223 | 6.7 | -2.2 |
  | | CPA | Leigh Smith | 35 | 1.0 | ±0.0 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,711 | 51.1 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,363 | 31.4 | |
  | | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | 25.2 | |
  
  The by-election was caused by the death of the incumbent Liberal Democrat, Paul Clark in December 2021. The Lib Dem’s won with an increased majority with Labour opting not to nominate a candidate.
  
  Hitchin North: 9 February 2023 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labour | Ian Clive Albert | 1992 | 65.8 | +12.7 |
  | | Conservative | Ralph Gerald Muncer | 526 | 17.4 | -9.5 |
  | | Green | Deolinda Maria Eltringham | 415 | 13.7 | +3.3 |
  | | CPA | Leigh Smith | 93 | 3.1 | +3.1 |
  | Majority | Majority | Majority | 1466 | 48.4 | |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3036 | 26.4 | -17 |
  | | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |
  
  The by-election was caused by the death of the Labour incumbent, Judi Billing in November 2022. Labour won with an increased majority with the Lib Dem’s opting not to nominate a candidate.
  
  