February 1867 North German federal election

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.

February 1867 North German federal election

← 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 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
Seats won 78 63 39
Popular vote 753,758 629,360 348,537
Percentage 20.19% 16.86% 9.33%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Polen
Leader Georg von Vincke Benedict Waldeck
Party Old Liberals DFP Polish Party
Leader since 1858 1867
Seats won 31 19 13
Popular vote 265,670 276,321 209,382
Percentage 7.12% 7.40% 5.61%

Map of results (by constituencies)

President of the Reichstag after election

Eduard von Simson
Independent

Electoral system

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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

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2
19
23
31
2
13
78
9
9
39
9
63
PartyVotes%Seats
National Liberal Party753,75820.1978
Conservative Party629,36016.8663
Other Liberals379,49910.160
Free Conservative Party348,5379.3339
Independent Conservatives345,9659.279
Progress Party276,3217.4019
Old Liberals265,6707.1231
Polish Party209,3825.6113
Independent Liberals190,8155.1123
German-Hanoverian Party111,7812.999
Clericals87,3652.349
Danish Party27,4930.742
Saxon People's Party22,9180.612
General German Workers' Association21,5100.580
Lassallean General German Workers' Association3,0000.080
Others39,3411.050
Unknown21,2020.570
Total3,733,917100.00297
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Parliamentary groups

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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.

References

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