East Ayrshire Council (Scottish Gaelic: Comhairle Shiorrachd Inbhir Àir an Ear) is the political body covering the East Ayrshire local authority created in 1995, comprising nine wards, each electing three of four local councillors through the single transferable vote system, creating a type of proportional representation.

The top of the councils coat of arms features a black diamond which is to symbolise the areas history of coal mining.

Next to the black diamond is a fir tree which represents the areas forestry, agriculture and rural landscape.

Both components, the black diamonds and fir trees, were adopted from the former Cumnock and Doon Valley Coat of Arms.

The leaders of the council since 1996 have been:[11] Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.

The building was built as the James Hamilton School, which was designed by William Reid, the Ayrshire county architect, and opened in 1933.