February 1867 North German federal election

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February 1867 North German federal election
Flag of Germany (1867-1919).svg
  1848 12 February 1867 (1867-02-12) Aug 1867  

All 297 seats in the Reichstag
149 seats needed for a majority
Turnout~65% (in Prussian constituencies)
 First partySecond partyThird party
  Rudolf von Bennigsen.jpg
DKP
DRP
Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Eduard Georg von Bethusy-Huc
(nominal)
Party NlP Conservatives DRP
Leader since18671866
Seats won786339
Popular vote753,758629,360348,537
Percentage20.19%16.86%9.33%

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  Seib, Jacob - Georg von Vincke, Abgeordneter des 13. Westfalischen Wahlbezirks, Frankfurt (Zeno Fotografie).jpg Benedikt Waldeck (IZ 54-1870 S 445).jpg
Polen
Leader Georg von Vincke Benedict Waldeck
Party Old Liberals DFP Polish Party
Leader since18581867
Seats won311913
Popular vote265,670276,321209,382
Percentage7.12%7.40%5.61%

Karte der Reichstagswahlen Februar 1867.svg
Map of results (by constituencies)

President of the Reichstag after election

Eduard von Simson
Independent

Elections to the Constituent Reichstag of the North German Confederation were held on 12 February 1867, with run-off elections during the following weeks. The National Liberal Party emerged as the largest party, winning 80 seats and receiving strong support in Hanover, Kassel and Nassau. [1] Voter turnout was around 65% in Prussian constituencies. [2] After the Constituent Reichstag had drawn up and agreed a constitution, fresh elections were held in August.

Contents

Electoral system

The North German Confederation were divided into 297 single-member electoral constituencies. Elections were conducted under the two-round system. All men over the age of 25, who were in full enjoyment of their civil rights, who were resident in the place of election and had nationality in one of the States belonging to the Confederation for at least three years, who were not under guardianship or curate, who were not engaged in bankruptcy proceedings, and who were not in receipt of public assistance were eligible to vote. [2]

Results

2
19
23
31
2
13
78
9
9
39
9
63
PartyVotes%Seats
National Liberal Party 753,75820.1978
Conservative Party 629,36016.8663
Other Liberals379,49910.160
Free Conservative Party 348,5379.3339
Independent Conservatives345,9659.279
Progress Party 276,3217.4019
Old Liberals 265,6707.1231
Polish Party 209,3825.6113
Independent Liberals190,8155.1123
German-Hanoverian Party 111,7812.999
Clericals87,3652.349
Danish Party 27,4930.742
Saxon People's Party 22,9180.612
General German Workers' Association 21,5100.580
Lassallean General German Workers' Association 3,0000.080
Others39,3411.050
Unknown21,2020.570
Total3,733,917100.00297
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Parliamentary groups

Two separate parliamentary groups would later be formed: the Free Association out of 11 liberals and 3 conservatives; and the Federal-Constitutional Association, out of 7 Schleswig-Holstein particularist liberals, one other liberal, 4 clericals, all 9 German-Hanoverians, and one independent conservative.

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References

  1. Helmut Walser Smith (2011) The Oxford Handbook of Modern German History Oxford University Press, p294
  2. 1 2 Smith, p293