1955 Aden Legislative Council election

Elections to the Legislative Council were held for the first time in the Colony of Aden in 1955. However, only four of the Council's 18 seats were elected.[1] Restrictions on suffrage were imposed linked to age, gender, property ownership and residency. With only around 5,000 people voting,[2] the restrictions ensured that only loyalists to the government were elected.[1] Following the elections there were protests over the suffrage limitations and calling for independence.[1]

Background

The changes to the Colony's constitution were announced on 20 July 1955.[3] Membership of the Council was increased from 16 to 18, with one official and one unofficial member added.[3] The number of nominees was reduced from eight to five, one of whom would be chosen by the Governor to represent the business sector.[3]

Of the elected members, one was to be elected by members of Aden Municipal Council and three from single-member constituencies.[3]

References

1. Sheila Carapico (2007) Civil Society in Yemen: The Political Economy of Activism in Modern Arabia Cambridge University Press, p86
2. "6,000 Go To The Polls In Aden" The Times, 6 January 1959, p6, issue 54351
3. "Changes In Aden Constitution" The Times, 21 July 1955, p6, issue 53278