Each ward elected either three or four members, using the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system – a form of proportional representation – where candidates are ranked in order of preference.

Conservative councillor Hugh Hunter was de-selected in the run-up to the 2022 elections and resigned from the party to stand as an independent.

Source: [21][22] The SNP, the Conservatives and independent candidate Brian Connolly retained the seats they won at the previous election.

Source: [23][24] Independent candidate Alec Clark, the SNP and the Conservatives held the seats they won at the previous election.

Source: [25][26] It had initially been expected that the ruling SNP-Labour-Independent administration would continue to run the council, but discussions broke down between the parties amid Labour's claims of a "political stitch-up".

[27] However, the Conservative group formed a minority administration and took control of the council[28] after the first full-council meeting thanks to Labour abstentions.

Cllr Peter Henderson, leader of the SNP group, retired as a councillor due to "personal ill-health" which triggered a by-election in Girvan and South Carrick.

[32] At some point in late 2023 or early 2024, Ayr North councillor Mark Dixon left the SNP to sit as an independent.

[8][33] In July 2024, Cllr Stephen Ferry resigned from the Conservatives to sit as an independent councillor and from his position as education portfolio holder.

A deal was subsequently struck between the Conservative administration and Cllr Grant – who resigned from his position as SNP group leader and from the party to sit as an independent – which would see him return as education portfolio holder, a position he held while the SNP were in administration before the 2022 election.