The 2012 Orkney Islands Council election took place on 3 May 2012 to elect members of Orkney Council. The election used the six wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation, with 21 Councillors being elected.

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Quick Facts All 21 seats to Orkney 11 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

2012 Orkney Islands Council election

← 2007 3 May 2012 (2012-05-03) 2017 →
All 21 seats to Orkney 11 seats needed for a majority
First party   Leader Steven Heddle Party Independent Leader's seat Kirkwall East Last election 21 seats, 100% Seats before 21 Seats won 21 Seat change - Popular vote 8,161 Percentage 96.9% Swing 2.3%
Council Leader before election Stephen Hagan Independent Council Leader after election Steven Heddle Independent

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As in 2007 Independents took all of the 21 seats on the council. The Scottish National Party contested 4 wards in Orkney for the first time in 2012 but only secured 3% of the vote. The council was again administered solely by Independents.

Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.

• † Kirkwall West and Orphir Independent Cllr Jack Moodie resigned his seat for personal reasons on 9 September 2014. A by-election was held on 27 November 2014 and was won by the Independent Leslie Manson.^{[permanent dead link]}
• †† West Mainland Independent Cllr Alistair Gordon died on 19 May 2015. A by-election was held on 18 August 2015 to fill the vacancy and it was won by the Independent Rachael King.