See main article: 2012 Scottish local elections.
| Election Name: | 2012 Scottish Borders Council election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 Scottish Borders Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | Scottish Borders Council election, 2017 |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Seats For Election: | All 34 seats to Scottish Borders Council |
| Majority Seats: | 18 |
| 3Blank: | Swing (pp)--> |
| Party1: | Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party |
| Leaders Seat1: | East Berwickshire |
| Seats Before1: | 12 |
| Seats Needed1: | 7 |
| Seats1: | 10 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,644 |
| Percentage1: | 23.2% |
| Swing1: | 3.6% |
| Leader2: | John Mitchell |
| Party2: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | Galashiels and District |
| Seats Before2: | 6 |
| Seats Needed2: | 12 |
| Seats2: | 9 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,723 |
| Percentage2: | 20.8% |
| Swing2: | 2.0% |
| Leader3: | David Parker |
| Party3: | Independent (politician) |
| Leaders Seat3: | Leaderdale and Melrose |
| Seats Before3: | 4 |
| Seats Needed3: | 13 |
| Seats3: | 7 |
| Seat Change3: | 2 |
| Popular Vote3: | 8,454 |
| Percentage3: | 22.7% |
| Swing3: | 1.6% |
| Leader4: | Graham Garvie |
| Party4: | Scottish Liberal Democrats |
| Leaders Seat4: | Tweeddale East |
| Seats Before4: | 10 |
| Seats Needed4: | 8 |
| Seats4: | 6 |
| Seat Change4: | 4 |
| Popular Vote4: | 6,138 |
| Percentage4: | 16.5% |
| Swing4: | 8.1% |
| Leader5: | Sandy Aitchison |
| Party5: | Borders Party |
| Leaders Seat5: | Galashiels and District |
| Seats Before5: | 2 |
| Seats Needed5: | 16 |
| Seats5: | 2 |
| Seat Change5: | 0 |
| Popular Vote5: | 3,755 |
| Percentage5: | 10.1% |
| Swing5: | 4.8% |
| Map Size: | 400px |
| Council Leader | |
| Before Election: | David Parker |
| Before Party: | Independent (politician) |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | David Parker |
| After Party: | Independent (politician) |
2012 Elections to Scottish Borders Council were held on 3 May 2012, the same day as the other Scottish local government elections. The election used the 11 wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with each ward electing three or four Councillors using the single transferable vote system, a form of proportional representation, with 34 Councillors elected.[1]
The election saw the Scottish Conservative Party remain the largest party on the Council though they lost 1 seat. The Scottish National Party replaced the Scottish Liberal Democrats as the second largest party by gaining 3 seats at the expense of the latter. The Lib Dems were reduced to 6 seats. Independents increased their numbers to 7 seats while the Borders Party retained their 2 seats.
Following the election the Scottish National Party formed a coalition with the support of the Independents and the Liberal Democrats. The Borders Party are also supporting this administration. This replaced the previous Conservative-Lib Dem-Independent coalition which existed from 2007-2012.
Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.