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

31 August 1867
All 297 seats in the Reichstag 162 seats needed for a majority
Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Eduard Georg von Bethusy-Huc (nominal) Party NLP Conservatives DRP Leader since 1867 1866 Seats before 80 59 39 Seats won 81 66 34 Seat change 1 7 5 Percentage 16.3% Swing 1.4%   Leader Benedict Waldeck Ludwig Windthorst Georg von Vincke Party DFP Federal Constitutional Party Old Liberals Leader since 1867 1866 1858 Seats before 19 18 27 Seats won 29 21 15 Seat change 10 3 12 Percentage 7.1% Swing 2.5%   Party Free Association Seats before 14 Seats won 13 Seat change 1
Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Reichstag before election Eduard von Simson Independent Elected President of the Reichstag Eduard von Simson Independent

Electoral system

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

Party	Seats
National Liberal Party	81
Conservative Party	66
Free Conservative Party	34
German Progress Party	29
Federal State Constitutional Association	21
Old Liberals	15
Free Association	13
Poles	11
Independent liberals	9
Independent conservatives	7
Danes	1
Saxon People's Party	3
Others	4
Total	297

References

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