An election to Londonderry Borough Council took place on Thursday 15 January 1920 as part of that year's Irish local elections.

Quick Facts All 40 seats on Londonderry Borough Council 21 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1920 Londonderry Borough Council election

← 1914 Thursday 15 January 1920 1925 →
All 40 seats on Londonderry Borough Council 21 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Party Ulster Unionist Sinn Féin Nationalist Seats won 19 10 10
Mayor before election Robert Newton Anderson Irish Unionist Mayor after election Hugh O'Doherty Independent Nationalist

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As a result, Unionists lost control over Londonderry borough council, which for the first time passed into the control of the city's Catholic majority. The various Nationalist parties in the city contested the election on a pan-nationalist front, emphasizing the national question of Irish self-government, as well as issues over housing.^[1]

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1919 had seen the introduction of a PR electoral system for local government elections in Ireland. Turnout was high, at 93.5%. Despite the new electoral system only 2.8% of ballots were spoiled.^[2] Whilst Unionists won nearly 60% of the popular vote, this was connected to the Nationalist dominated West Ward going uncontested.

Nationalist control of the council would not last however, and following the partition of Ireland the Northern Irish Government restored the older, and less representative ward based system.^[2]