1985 Guyanese general election

General elections were held in Guyana on 9 December 1985.[1] The result was a victory for the People's National Congress, which won 42 of the 53 directly-elected seats. However, the elections were marred by fraud and the People's Progressive Party and Working People's Alliance withdrew on election day.[2] Voter turnout was 73.8%.[1]

1985 Guyanese general election

← 1980 9 December 1985 1992 →

53 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly
27 seats needed for a majority
Turnout73.83%
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Desmond Hoyte Cheddi Jagan Marcellus Fielden Singh
Party PNC PPP TUF
Leader since 6 August 1985 1 January 1950 January 1969
Seats won 42 8 2
Seat change Increase1 Decrease2 Steady
Popular vote 228,718 45,926 9,820
Percentage 78.54% 15.77% 3.37%
Swing Increase0.88pp Decrease3.69pp Increase0.49pp

Results by district

President before election

Desmond Hoyte
PNC

Elected President

Desmond Hoyte
PNC

Electoral system edit

The National Assembly had 65 members; 53 elected by proportional representation in a nationwide constituency, 10 appointed by the Regional Councils elected on the same date as the national members, and 2 appointed by the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs, an umbrella body representing the regional councils.[3]

The President was elected by a first-past-the-post double simultaneous vote system, whereby each list nominated a presidential candidate and the candidate heading the list that received the most votes was elected president.[3]

Results edit

PartyVotes%Seats
ElectedRegional
appointees
NCLDO
appointees
Total+/–
People's National Congress228,71878.544210254+1
People's Progressive Party45,92615.778008–2
United Force9,8203.3720020
Working People's Alliance4,1761.431001New
Democratic Labour Movement2,1670.740000New
People's Democratic Movement2320.080000New
National Democratic Front1560.050000New
Total291,195100.0053102650
Valid votes291,19598.78
Invalid/blank votes3,6061.22
Total votes294,801100.00
Registered voters/turnout399,30473.83
Source: Nohlen, IPU, Guyana News and Information

References edit

  1. ^ a b Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p363 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. ^ Nohlen, p367
  3. ^ a b "Guyana's new Constitution and the elections of 1980: A case of people's power?", Rajendra Chandisingh