# 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election
The 2011 [Northern Ireland Assembly](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland-assembly) election was held on 5 May 2011 to elect 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), six from each of the 18 parliamentary constituencies, using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system[1](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fa11.htm). It was the first time a devolved government in [Northern Ireland](https://www.edgepedia.org/northern-ireland) had sought re-election since 1968[1](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fa11.htm). The [Democratic Unionist Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/democratic-unionist-party) (DUP) and Sinn Féin consolidated their positions as the largest parties in their respective unionist and nationalist blocs, taking 38 and 29 of the 108 seats[2](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2011/general/5511.pdf) • [3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date and system | 5 May 2011; 108 MLAs elected by Single Transferable Vote, 6 per constituency across 18 constituencies[1](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fa11.htm) |
| Turnout | 54.69% of the 1,210,009 electorate cast votes (661,753 votes); 12,549 papers were spoilt, leaving 649,204 valid votes[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm) |
| Largest parties (seats) | DUP 38 (+2), Sinn Féin 29 (+1), SDLP 14 (-2), UUP 16 (-2), Alliance 8 (+1)[2](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2011/general/5511.pdf) |
| First preference vote | DUP 30.57%, Sinn Féin 27.45%, SDLP 14.52%, UUP 13.48%, Alliance 7.84%[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm) |
| Smaller parties | TUV won 1 seat on 2.54% of first preferences; the Green Party held 1 seat on 0.93%[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm) |
| Candidates | 218 candidates stood, of whom 38 (17.4%) were women; 91 of the 108 outgoing MLAs sought re-election[2](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2011/general/5511.pdf) |
| Same-day referendum | Voters also rejected the alternative vote for Westminster elections, with 67.9% voting No across the United Kingdom[3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172) |
## How the election worked
Voting used Proportional Representation by the Single Transferable Vote, the system used for all Assembly elections[5](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/assembly-elections/a-guide-to-the-single-transferable-vote-stv-or-how-your-vote-works-in-an-assembly-election/). Voters rank candidates in order of preference. A quota is calculated for each constituency by dividing the total valid votes by the number of seats plus one, and adding one to the whole number[5](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/assembly-elections/a-guide-to-the-single-transferable-vote-stv-or-how-your-vote-works-in-an-assembly-election/). In Belfast East, for example, the quota was 4,622, and Peter Robinson of the DUP exceeded it on the first count with 9,149 first preferences (28.28%)[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm).
Surplus votes above the quota are transferred at a fractional value, and the lowest-polling candidates are eliminated in later counts until all seats in the constituency are filled[5](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/assembly-elections/a-guide-to-the-single-transferable-vote-stv-or-how-your-vote-works-in-an-assembly-election/). Across Northern Ireland, 81,495 votes were transferred in 2011, down from 104,182 in 2007, reflecting in part the lower turnout but primarily the smaller number of candidates[6](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/Documents/RaISe/Publications/2011/General/5911.pdf).
## Results
The overall party composition of the Assembly changed little: gains and losses by individual parties involved one or two seats[7](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp11-42/). The DUP's first preference share was essentially unchanged from 2007 at 30.57% (30.0% in 2007), while [Sinn Féin](https://www.edgepedia.org/sinn-fein) rose to 27.45% from 26.2%. The [Ulster Unionist Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/ulster-unionist-party) fell to 13.48% (from 14.9%) and the SDLP to 14.52% (from 15.2%), while the Alliance Party rose to 7.84% from 5.2%[2](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2011/general/5511.pdf).
The [Traditional Unionist Voice](https://www.edgepedia.org/traditional-unionist-voice), contesting its first Assembly election, won 16,480 first preference votes (2.54%) and one seat, taken by party leader [Jim Allister](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-allister) in North Antrim on the ninth count[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm). One independent, David McClarty in East Londonderry, was elected[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm).
## Turnout
Fears of a record low turnout were realized in the 2011 election[3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172). Turnout fell to 54.69% from 62.9% in 2007[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm) • [8](https://education.niassembly.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/Election%20Report%3A%20Northern%20Ireland%20Assembly%20Election%2C%205%20May%202022.pdf). It varied widely by constituency, from 45.89% in North Down to 68.96% in Fermanagh and South Tyrone[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm). Belfast constituencies recorded turnouts between 50.28% (Belfast North) and 57.89% (Belfast West)[4](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm).
## Election day and other contests
Voters went to the polls three times on the same day, for the Assembly, for local councils, and in the United Kingdom-wide referendum on replacing first-past-the-post with the alternative vote for [Westminster](https://www.edgepedia.org/westminster) elections[9](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fr11.htm). The referendum was rejected, with 67.9% voting No nationally[3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172). Council results largely mirrored those at Assembly level, with the DUP and Sinn Féin consolidating their positions within their blocs[3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172).
The campaign itself was judged uneventful: the absence of inter-party conflict led to it being perceived as the most mundane in living memory[3](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172). Counting took more than a day, and a Northern Ireland Assembly committee later heard criticism of the time taken to publish first-preference totals and turnout figures[10](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/official-report/committee-minutes-of-evidence/session-2011-2012/february-2012/northern-ireland-elections/).
## References
1. [Northern Ireland Assembly Elections 2011, ARK](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fa11.htm)
2. [Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2011, Research Paper NIAR 263-11, Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2011/general/5511.pdf)
3. [The Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2011, Irish Political Studies, Vol 27, No 2](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07907184.2012.675172)
4. [Assembly Election (NI) Thursday 5 May 2011, CAIN](https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/politics/election/2011nia/ra2011.htm)
5. [A guide to the Single Transferable Vote, Northern Ireland Assembly](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/visit-and-learning/assembly-elections/a-guide-to-the-single-transferable-vote-stv-or-how-your-vote-works-in-an-assembly-election/)
6. [Analysis of Transferred Votes in the Northern Ireland Assembly Election 2011, NIAR 282-11](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/Documents/RaISe/Publications/2011/General/5911.pdf)
7. [Northern Ireland Assembly Elections: 2011, House of Commons Library Research Briefing RP11-42](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/rp11-42/)
8. [Election Report: Northern Ireland Assembly Election, 5 May 2022, Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service (turnout series 1998–2022)](https://education.niassembly.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/Election%20Report%3A%20Northern%20Ireland%20Assembly%20Election%2C%205%20May%202022.pdf)
9. [Northern Ireland referendum 2011, ARK](https://ark.ac.uk/elections/fr11.htm)
10. [Northern Ireland Elections, Committee Minutes of Evidence, Northern Ireland Assembly, February 2012](https://www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/official-report/committee-minutes-of-evidence/session-2011-2012/february-2012/northern-ireland-elections/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Elections and representation › Electoral systems and principles › Voting systems › Ranked and preferential systems › Use of ranked systems by jurisdiction (outside the United States)*
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