Shetland Islands Council Election May 1978
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
 Alexander I. Tulloch | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| James C. Irvine | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Williamson | 174 | Elected |
| William Cumming | 162 | Not elected |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| Fraser Peterson | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| James Hunter | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| William Tait | 166 | Elected |
| Prophet Smith | 93 | Not elected |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
 Raymond Bentley | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| Joan McLeod | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bill Smith | Labour | 273 | Elected |
| James Wiseman | 73 | Not elected |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
 Alexander Morrison | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| Peter Hunter | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Watts | 163 | Elected |
 Thomas M. Y. Manson | 125 | Not elected |
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| Henry Stewart | Unopposed |
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Florence Grains | 169 | Elected |
| Alexander Arthur | 154 | Not elected |
| John Rae | 97 | Not elected |
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Stewart Gray | 146 | Elected |
| Frank Odie | 145 | Not elected |
Lerwick Breiwick
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Butler | Shetland Labour Party | 194 | Elected |
 Harry Gray | 169 | Not elected |
Lerwick Clickimin
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| Ian Byrne | Unopposed |
Lerwick Harbour
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
 Edward Thomason | 241 | Elected |
| William C. Christie | 55 | Not elected |
Lerwick Sound
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindsay Smith | 141 | Elected | |
| Robert Brandie | 98 | Not elected | |
| James Gair | 61 | Not elected | |
| Donald Briers | 38 | Not elected | |
| Donald Sutherland | Independent/Progressive | 33 | Not elected |
Lerwick Twageos
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
 Sandy Cluness | 289 | Elected |
| James Paton | 157 | Not elected |
Northmavine
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Christopher Dowle | 317 | Elected |
| John Jamieson | 78 | Not elected |
Sandness And Walls
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Gordon Walterson | 228 | Elected |
| Williamina Tait | 169 | Not elected |
Scalloway
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jemima Walterson | 263 | Elected |
| Andrew B. Irvine | 123 | Not elected |
| James A. Watt | 29 | Not elected |
Unst
| Candidate | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| William Playfair | 181 | Elected |
| Alan Fraser | 176 | Not elected |
Yell North And Fetlar
| Candidate | Result |
|---|---|
| David Johnson | Unopposed |