1956 Trinidad and Tobago general election

1956 Trinidad and Tobago general election
All 24 seats in the Legislative Council
Turnout	80.09% (9.96pp)
Chief Minister before election; Albert Gomes; (Party of Political Progress Groups)	Subsequent Chief Minister ; Eric Williams; (People's National Movement)

General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 24 September 1956.^[1] 129 candidates from nine political parties contested for 24 seats in the legislative council.^[2] The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 13 of the 24 seats. Voter turnout was 80.1%.^[3]

In one of the biggest races in the 1956 general election, West Indies cricketer Learie Constantine of the PNM defeated Radio Trinidad announcer Surujpat Mathura of the PDP in Tunapuna.^[4]

Results


Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	People's National Movement	105,153	39.75	13	New
	People's Democratic Party	55,148	20.85	5	New
	Butler Party	31,071	11.75	2	–4
	Party of Political Progress Groups	14,019	5.30	0	–2
	Trinidad Labour Party–National Development Party	13,692	5.18	2	0
	Caribbean National Labour Party	3,864	1.46	0	New
	Caribbean People's Democratic Party	627	0.24	0	New
	West Indian Independence Party	446	0.17	0	New
	Independents	40,523	15.32	2	–4
Total		264,543	100.00	24	+6

Valid votes		264,543	97.43
Invalid/blank votes		6,991	2.57
Total votes		271,534	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		339,028	80.09
Source: Elections and Boundaries Commission

References

^ Dieter Nohlen (2005). Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook, Vol. I. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 635. ISBN 0-19-928357-5.
^ "Trinidad and Tobago General Election Results 1956". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
^ Nohlen, p639
^ "Constantine, Learie". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

[Nohlen-635-1] Dieter Nohlen (2005). Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook, Vol. I. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 635. ISBN 0-19-928357-5.

[CE-2] "Trinidad and Tobago General Election Results 1956". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 21 October 2020.

[3] Nohlen, p639

[4] "Constantine, Learie". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 15 May 2021.

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