August 1867 North German federal election

Elections to the Reichstag of the North German Confederation were held on 31 August 1867,[1] with run-off elections during the following weeks. The National Liberal Party continued to serve as the largest party, winning 81 seats. These were the first regular and last elections during the North German Confederation. In July 1870 the Reichstag members decided not to hold new elections during the Franco-Prussian war, in spite of the three-year period.

August 1867 North German federal election

← Feb 1867 31 August 1867 (1867-08-31) 1868 →

All 297 seats in the Reichstag
149 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
DKP
DRP
Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Eduard Georg von Bethusy-Huc
(nominal)
Party NlP Conservatives DRP
Leader since 1867 1866
Last election 20.19%, 78 seats 16.86%, 63 seats 9.33%, 39 seats
Seats won 80 66 36
Seat change Increase 2 Increase 3 Decrease 3
Popular vote 414,043 480,775 205,792
Percentage 18.02% 20.92% 8.95%
Swing Decrease 2.17pp Increase 4.06pp Decrease 0.38pp

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Polen
Leader Benedict Waldeck Georg von Vincke
Party DFP Old Liberals Polish Party
Leader since 1867 1858
Last election 7.40%, 19 seats 7.12%, 31 seats 5.61%, 13 seats
Seats won 32 15 11
Seat change Increase 13 Decrease 16 Decrease 2
Popular vote 290,500 107,758 169,006
Percentage 12.64% 4.69% 7.35%
Swing Increase 5.24pp Decrease 2.43pp Increase 1.70pp

Map of results (by constituencies)

President of the Reichstag before election

Eduard von Simson
Independent

President of the Reichstag after election

Eduard von Simson
Independent

Electoral system

edit

The North German Confederation were divided into 297 single-member electoral constituencies, of which 236 were in Prussia. All men over the age of 25 and not in receipt of public assistance were eligible to vote.

Results

edit
6
32
32
15
1
11
80
8
4
36
6
66
PartyVotes%+/–Seats+/–
Conservative Party480,77520.92+4.0666+3
National Liberal Party414,04318.02−2.1780+2
Progress Party290,50012.64+5.2432+13
Free Conservative Party205,7928.95−0.3836−3
Polish Party169,0067.35+1.7011−2
Independent Conservatives166,2597.23−2.046−3
Other Liberals152,2196.62−3.540±0
Independent Liberals135,2565.89+0.7832+9
Old Liberals107,7584.69−2.4315−16
Clericals48,1362.09−0.258−1
German-Hanoverian Party28,5811.24−1.754−5
Danish Party25,3981.11+0.371−1
General German Workers' Association25,3911.10+0.522+2
Saxon People's Party12,5900.55−0.063+1
Lassallean General German Workers' Association2,5210.11+0.031+1
Others33,5591.46+0.410±0
Unknown4950.02−0.550±0
Total2,298,279100.002970
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

References

edit
  1. ^ Jonathan Steinberg (2011) Bismarck: A Life, Oxford University Press