The ward returns three councillors every four years to Hackney Borough Council.

At the last election, held on 3 May 2018, Michael Desmond, Anna-Joy Rickard and Sem Moema, all Labour Party candidates, were returned.

[1] In 2001, Hackney Downs ward had a total population of 10,294.

This compares with the average ward population within the borough of 10,674.

[2] At the 2011 Census, the population of the ward had increased to 12,921.