Unionist stronghold. This overwhelmingly Protestant constituency stretches along the coastal strip on the northern side of Belfast Lough and the western side of the North Channel.
East Antrim is mainly agricultural, with some engineering industry, and includes the port of Larne. It takes in the whole of Larne and Carrickfergus district councils, and part of Newtownabbey district council.
In 2007, the DUP held three Assembly seats to the UUP's two and Alliance's one. Boundary changes removed only a few Newtownabbey wards from the constituency, which now takes in areas of the Glens like Glenaan and Glenarriff, increasing the likelihood of a nationalist party taking a seat.