Bedfordshire County Council was elected every four years. Luton was administered by the county council until 1997, when it became a unitary authority. Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009, when unitary councils were introduced across the rest of Bedfordshire. Services which prior to 2009 were provided by Bedfordshire County Council are now provided by either Bedford Borough Council or Central Bedfordshire Council.

The county council was first established in 1889. The Local Government Act 1972 significantly reformed the council's powers and responsibilities. After those reforms, political control of the council was held by the following parties:

• 1973 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1977 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1981 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1985 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1989 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1993 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 1997 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 2001 Bedfordshire County Council election
• 2005 Bedfordshire County Council election