1903 Japanese general election

General elections were held in Japan on 1 March 1903.[1] The Rikken Seiyūkai party remained the largest in the House of Representatives, winning 175 of the 376 seats, but lost its majority.

1903 Japanese general election

← 1902 1 March 1903 1904 →

All 376 seats in the House of Representatives
189 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Saionji Kinmochi Ōkuma Shigenobu
Party Rikken Seiyūkai Kensei Hontō
Last election 191 seats 95 seats
Seats won 175 85
Seat change Decrease16 Decrease10
Popular vote 373,022 218,689
Percentage 45.42% 26.63%
Swing Decrease4.98pp Increase0.95pp

Prime Minister before election

Katsura Tarō
Independent

Prime Minister after election

Katsura Tarō
Independent

Electoral system edit

The 376 members of the House of Representatives were elected in 51 multi-member constituencies based on prefectures and cities. Voting was restricted to men aged over 25 who paid at least 10 yen a year in direct taxation.[2]

Campaign edit

A total of 537 candidates contested the 376 seats.

Results edit

 
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Rikken Seiyūkai373,02245.42175–16
Kensei Hontō218,68926.6385–10
Chūsei Club37,0704.5131New
Teikokutō34,8114.24170
Seiyū Club24,1292.9413New
Jinin Kai2,7480.330–28
Dōshi Club1,5170.180–13
Others129,31315.7455+23
Total821,299100.003760
Valid votes821,29999.09
Invalid/blank votes7,5270.91
Total votes828,826100.00
Registered voters/turnout958,32286.49
Source: Mackie & Rose, Voice Japan

References edit

  1. ^ Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p281
  2. ^ Mackie & Rose, p276