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. Voter turnout was around 65% in Prussian constituencies. After the Constituent Reichstag had drawn up and agreed a constitution, fresh elections were held in August.

February 1867 North German federal election

12 February 1867 (1867-02-12)
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

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.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats
	National Liberal Party	753,758	20.19	78
	Conservative Party	629,360	16.86	63
	Other Liberals	379,499	10.16	0
	Free Conservative Party	348,537	9.33	39
	Independent Conservatives	345,965	9.27	9
	Progress Party	276,321	7.40	19
	Old Liberals	265,670	7.12	31
	Polish Party	209,382	5.61	13
	Independent Liberals	190,815	5.11	23
	German-Hanoverian Party	111,781	2.99	9
	Clericals	87,365	2.34	9
	Danish Party	27,493	0.74	2
	Saxon People's Party	22,918	0.61	2
	General German Workers' Association	21,510	0.58	0
	Lassallean General German Workers' Association	3,000	0.08	0
Others		39,341	1.05	0
Unknown		21,202	0.57	0
Total		3,733,917	100.00	297
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Parliamentary groups

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.