1971 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 9 September 1971.[1] Amendments to the electoral system saw the two-member constituencies previously used replaced by single-member first-past-the-post constituencies.[2] This was also the first election in modern Barbadian history to be contested by only two political parties, not including two independent candidates.[3]

1971 Barbadian general election
9 September 1971
24 seats in the House of Assembly
13 seats needed for a majority
Turnout81.62% (1.92%)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Errol Barrow Bernard St. John
Party DLP BLP
Leader's seat St. John Christ Church South Central (Defeated)
Last election 14 seats 8 seats
Seats won 18 6
Seat change 4 2
Popular vote 53,295 39,376
Percentage 57.40% 42.41%
Swing 7.84% 9.81%
Prime Minister before election

Errol Barrow
DLP

 Elected Prime Minister

Errol Barrow
DLP

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The result was a victory for the Democratic Labour Party, which won 18 of the 24 seats. Despite achieving a larger increase in vote share than its opponent, the Barbados Labour Party lost two seats and its leader, Harold Bernard St. John, was defeated in his constituency of Christ Church South Central.[4] Voter turnout was 81.6%, the highest in the country's history.[1]

Results
PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Democratic Labour Party53,29557.4018+4
Barbados Labour Party39,37642.416–2
Independents1740.1900
Total92,845100.00240
Valid votes92,84598.75
Invalid/blank votes1,1741.25
Total votes94,019100.00
Registered voters/turnout115,18981.62
Source: Nohlen

References
  1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p90 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. Nohlen, p92
  3. "Barbados General Election Results - 9 September 1971". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. Caribbean Elections


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