The ward is one of 21 in the Wakefield district and has had the same boundaries since the 2004 Council election. As of 2015, the electorate stands at 12,495 of which 96.2% identify as "White British" and 69.4% of who identify as Christian.[2][3]
Like all wards in the Wakefield district, Knottingley has 3 councillors, whom are elected on a 4-year-rota. This means elections for new councillors are held for three years running, with one year every four years having no elections.[5]
The current councillors are the Liberal Democrats' Adele Hayes, Peter Girt and Rachel Speak.[6] Knottingley is the only ward with a Liberal Democrat councillor in Wakefield Council since 2011, winning the seat after not standing a candidate in the ward since 2003.[7]