Ards East was one of the four district electoral areas in Ards, Northern Ireland which existed from 1993 to 2014. The district elected six members to Ards Borough Council and formed part of the North Down constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament, and part of the Strangford constituencies for the Northern Ireland Assembly and UK Parliament.

It was created for the 1993 local elections, and contained the wards of Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South, Gregstown, Loughries, Millisle and Movilla. It was abolished for the 2014 local elections and replaced by the Bangor East and Donaghadee DEA and Newtownards DEA.

2005: 4 x DUP, 2 x UUP

2011: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2005-2011 Change: Alliance gain from UUP

2001: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

2005: 4 x DUP, 2 x UUP

2001-2005 Change: DUP gain (two seats) from UUP and Alliance

1997: 4 x UUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance

2001: 3 x DUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

1997-2001 Change: DUP gain from UUP

• As only six candidates had been nominated for six seats, there was no vote in Ards East and all six candidates were deemed elected.

1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

1997: 4 x UUP, 1 x DUP, 1 x Alliance

1993-1997 Change: UUP gain from DUP

1993: 3 x UUP, 2 x DUP, 1 x Alliance