Brownswood is a ward in the London Borough of Hackney and forms part of the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. The ward has existed since the creation of the borough on 1 April 1965 and was first used in the 1964 elections. The population of the ward in 2011 was 11,091.^[1] The boundaries of the ward from May 2014 are revised.

Brownswood ward has existed since the creation of the London Borough of Hackney on 1 April 1965. It was first used in the 1964 election to Hackney London Borough Council, with an electorate of 5,629, returning two councillors.^[2] On 7 May 1964 election there was a turnout of 20.1% and both councillors elected were Labour Party members. The councillors did not formally take up office until 1 April 1965, for a three-year term.

At 9 May 1968 election there was a turnout of 25.9% and both councillors elected were Conservative Party members.^[3] The councillors served for a three-year term. For 13 May 1971 election there was a turnout of 30.6% and two Labour Party members were elected. The councillors served for a three-year term.^[4]

The election on 2 May 1974 had a turnout of 26.6% and returned two Labour Party members. The term length was changed by the Local Government Act 1972 and the councillors were elected for a four-year term at this and all subsequent elections.^[5]

There was a revision of ward boundaries in Hackney in 1978.^[6] The ward had an electorate of 5,592 and returned two councillors.

The ward elected two Labour Party members at the election on 4 May 1978 with a turnout of 34.5%.^[7]

For the election on 6 May 1982 the ward elected two Labour Party members, with a turnout of 34%^[8]

At the election on 8 May 1986 two Labour Party members were returned with a turnout of 40%.^[9]

In 2001 Brownswood ward had a total population of 11,315. This compared with the average ward population within the borough at the time of 10,674.^[10]

There was a revision of ward boundaries in Hackney in 2002. The ward returns three councillors to the Hackney London Borough Council holding an election every four years. At the previous election on 6 May 2010 Brian Bell, Feryat Demirci, and Oli de Botton; all Labour Party candidates, were returned. The turnout was 60%, with 4,637 votes cast.^[11]

The ward was reduced in size for the May 2014 election with the eastern section becoming part of the new ward of Woodberry Down.^[12] The number of councillors elected for the revised Brownswood ward was reduced from three to two, returning Labour Party candidates Clare Potter and Brian Bell.^[13]