1881 German federal election

Federal elections were held in Germany on 27 October 1881. The Centre Party became the largest party in the Reichstag, with 100 of the 397 seats, whilst the National Liberal Party, which had previously been the largest party, was reduced to 45 seats. Voter turnout was 56.3%.

1881 German federal election

27 October 1881 (1881-10-27)
All 397 seats in the Reichstag 199 seats needed for a majority
Registered	9,090,386
Turnout	56.30% ( 6.03pp)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Ludwig Windthorst Eugen Richter Otto von Helldorff Party Centre DFP DKP Leader since 26 May 1874 7 June 1876 Last election 22.84%, 94 seats 6.86%, 26 seats 12.79%, 59 seats Seats won 100 58 50 Seat change 6 32 9 Popular vote 1,177,033 645,851 776,436 Percentage 23.09% 12.67% 15.23% Swing 0.25pp 5.81pp 2.44pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Eduard Lasker Rudolf von Bennigsen Viktor I, Duke of Ratibor Party LV NlP DRP Leader since 1877 1867 Last election Did not exist 22.41%, 97 seats 13.64%, 57 seats Seats won 48 45 27 Seat change New party 52 30 Popular vote 450,166 617,752 382,149 Percentage 8.83% 12.12% 7.50% Swing New party 10.29pp 6.14pp
Map of results (by constituencies)
President of the Reichstag before election Gustav von Goßler DKP President of the Reichstag after election Albert von Levetzow DKP

Results

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Centre Party	1,177,033	23.09	+0.25	100	+6
	German Conservative Party	776,436	15.23	+2.44	50	−9
	German Progress Party	645,851	12.67	+5.81	58	+32
	National Liberal Party	617,752	12.12	−10.29	45	−52
	Liberal Union	450,166	8.83	New	48	New
	German Reich Party	382,149	7.50	−6.14	27	−30
	Social Democratic Party	311,961	6.12	−1.47	13	+4
	Polish Party	200,734	3.94	+0.19	18	+4
	Alsace-Lorraine parties	156,707	3.07	−0.04	15	0
	German People's Party	103,665	2.03	+0.83	9	+6
	Independent liberals	92,539	1.82	+0.09	1	−6
	German-Hanoverian Party	86,704	1.70	−0.15	10	0
	Schauss-Völk group	22,238	0.44	New	1	New
	Independent conservatives	19,517	0.38	+0.21	0	0
	Christian Social Party	17,628	0.35	+0.29	0	0
	Danish Party	14,398	0.28	0.00	2	+1
	Independent anti-semites	7,255	0.14	New	0	New
Others		14,359	0.28	+0.10	0	0
Unknown		668	0.01	0.00	0	0
Total		5,097,760	100.00	–	397	0
Valid votes		5,097,760	99.60
Invalid/blank votes		20,572	0.40
Total votes		5,118,332	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		9,090,386	56.30
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland

Alsace-Lorraine

Party		Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
	Protesters	100,321	61.18	+26.66	10	+4
	Clericals	34,396	20.98	−8.38	4	−1
	Autonomists	21,990	13.41	−10.28	1	−3
	National Liberal Party	3,186	1.94	New	0	New
	German Reich Party	1,265	0.77	−11.19	0	0
	German Conservative Party	872	0.53	+0.36	0	0
	Social Democratic Party	583	0.36	+0.29	0	0
	Independent liberals	255	0.16	New	0	New
Others		1,057	0.64	+0.41	0	0
Unknown		51	0.03	+0.03	0	0
Total		163,976	100.00	–	15	0
Valid votes		163,976	97.26
Invalid/blank votes		4,618	2.74
Total votes		168,594	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		311,001	54.21
Source: Wahlen in Deutschland