1962 Soviet Union legislative election

Elections to the Supreme Soviet were held in the Soviet Union on 18 March 1962.

1962 Soviet Union legislative election

18 March 1962
All 1,443 seats in the Supreme Soviet
First party Second party   Leader Nikita Khrushchev Party CPSU Independent Leader since 13 March 1953 Seats before 1048 330 Seats won 1094 349 Seat change 46 19 Percentage 75.8% 24.2%
Chairman of the Council of Ministers before election Nikita Khrushchev CPSU Elected Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikita Khrushchev CPSU

Electoral system

Candidates had to be nominated by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) or by a public organisation. However, all public organisations were controlled by the party and were subservient to a 1931 law that required them to accept party rule. The CPSU itself remained the only legal one in the country.

Voters could vote against the CPSU candidate, but could only do so by using polling booths, whereas votes for the party could be cast simply by submitting a blank ballot. Turnout was required to be over 50% for the election to be valid.

Candidates

CPSU candidates accounted for around three quarters of the nominees, whilst many of the others were members of Komsomol.

Results

Soviet of the Union

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Communist Party of the Soviet Union	139,210,431	99.47	604	+41
	Independents			187	+12
Against		746,563	0.53	–	–
Total		139,956,994	100.00	791	+53
Valid votes		139,956,994	100.00
Invalid/blank votes		815	0.00
Total votes		139,957,809	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		140,022,359	99.95
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Soviet of Nationalities

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Communist Party of the Soviet Union	139,391,455	99.60	490	+5
	Independents			162	+7
Against		565,648	0.40	–	–
Total		139,957,103	100.00	652	+12
Valid votes		139,957,103	100.00
Invalid/blank votes		706	0.00
Total votes		139,957,809	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		140,022,359	99.95
Source: Nohlen & Stöver