1871 German federal election

The first federal elections were held in Germany on 3 March 1871. The National Liberal Party emerged as the largest party in the Reichstag, with 117 of the 382 seats. Voter turnout was just 51.0%.

1871 German federal election

3 March 1871 (1871-03-03)
All 382 seats in the Reichstag 192 seats needed for a majority
Registered	7,656,283
Turnout	3,905,531 (51.01%)
First party Second party Third party   Con Leader Rudolf von Bennigsen Hermann von Mallinckrodt Party NlP Centre Conservatives Leader since 1867 1870 Last election 23.28%, 104 seats Did not exist 14.82%, 65 seats Seats won 117 58 56 Seat change 13 New party 9 Popular vote 1,125,942 707,896 524,881 Percentage 28.97% 18.21% 13.51% Swing 5.69pp New party 1.31pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   DFP Leader Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor Chlodwig Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst Party DFP DRP LRP Leader since 1871 Last election 8.75%, 31 seats 6.67%, 37 seats Did not exist Seats won 45 37 33 Seat change 14 0 New party Popular vote 351,209 343,098 274,068 Percentage 9.04% 8.83% 7.05% Swing 0.29pp 2.16pp New party
Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Zollparlament before election Eduard von Simson Independent President of the Reichstag after election Eduard von Simson Independent

Results

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	National Liberal Party	1,125,942	28.97	+5.69	117	+13
	Centre Party	707,896	18.21	New	58	New
	Conservative Party	524,881	13.51	−1.31	56	−9
	German Progress Party	351,209	9.04	+0.29	45	+14
	German Reich Party	343,098	8.83	+2.16	37	0
	Imperial Liberal Party	274,068	7.05	New	33	New
	Polish Party	176,342	4.54	−0.52	13	+2
	Independent Liberals	74,903	1.93	−9.05	5	−27
	German-Hanoverian Party	73,470	1.89	+1.01	7	+3
	General German Workers' Association	56,117	1.44	−0.27	0	−2
	Social Democratic Workers' Party	41,040	1.06	−0.19	1	−1
	German People's Party	29,595	0.76	−1.23	1	−7
	Old Liberals	24,900	0.64	−2.79	2	−16
	Danish Party	21,143	0.54	−0.23	1	0
	Clericals	15,329	0.39	−9.21	3	−33
	Independent conservatives	14,805	0.38	−9.64	1	+1
	Schleswig-Holstein Particularist Liberals	6,968	0.18	−1.03	2	−6
	Lassallean General German Workers' Association	4,770	0.12	−0.02	0	−1
	Saxon Particularist Conservatives	1,549	0.04	−0.06	0	0
	Others	17,596	0.45	−0.84	0	0
	Unknown	894	0.02	−0.07	0	0
Total		3,886,515	100.00	–	382	+85
Valid votes		3,886,515	99.51
Invalid/blank votes		19,016	0.49
Total votes		3,905,531	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		7,656,283	51.01
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland