1981 Ballymena Borough Council election

Elections to Ballymena Borough Council were held on 20 May 1981 on the same day as the other Northern Irish local government elections. The election used four district electoral areas to elect a total of 21 councillors.

Election results
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes.

Districts summary
!rowspan=2 align="left"|Ward ! %
 * - class="unsortable" align="centre"

!Cllrs

! %

!Cllrs

! %

!Cllrs

!rowspan=2|Total Cllrs

!colspan=2 bgcolor="" | DUP !colspan=2 bgcolor="" | UUP !colspan=2 bgcolor="white"| Others
 * - class="unsortable" align="center"
 * align="left"|Area A
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|42.8
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|2
 * 37.8
 * 1
 * 19.4
 * 1
 * 4
 * align="left"|Area B
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|68.0
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|4
 * 32.0
 * 2
 * 0.0
 * 0
 * 6
 * align="left"|Area C
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|66.6
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|4
 * 31.5
 * 1
 * 1.9
 * 0
 * 5
 * align="left"|Area D
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|41.9
 * bgcolor="#D46A4C"|3
 * 21.7
 * 1
 * 36.4
 * 2
 * 6
 * - class="unsortable" class="sortbottom" style="background:#C9C9C9"
 * align="left"| Total
 * 55.5
 * 13
 * 30.0
 * 5
 * 14.5
 * 3
 * 21
 * }
 * 5
 * 14.5
 * 3
 * 21
 * }
 * }

Area A
1977: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent

1981: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent

1977-1981 Change: No change

Area B
1977: 4 x DUP, 2 x UUP

1981: 4 x DUP, 2 x UUP

1977-1981 Change: No change

Area C
1977: 3 x DUP, 2 x Independent Unionist

1981: 4 x DUP, 1 x UUP

1977-1981 Change: DUP and UUP gain from Independent Unionist (two seats)

Area D
1977: 2 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Alliance, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Unionist

1981: 3 x DUP, 1 x UUP, 1 x Independent, 1 x Independent Unionist

1977-1981 Change: DUP gain from Alliance