General elections were held in East Germany on 15 October 1950. They were the first held since the founding of the country on 7 October 1949. There were 466 deputies in the Volkskammer, including 66 from East Berlin who were not directly elected.
1950 East German general election
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All 466 seats in the Volkskammer |
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Turnout | 98.50% ( 3.27pp) |
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This election set the tone for all elections held in East Germany until the Peaceful Revolution. Voters were presented with a single list from the National Front of Democratic Germany, which in turn was controlled by the Socialist Unity Party. Only one candidate appeared on the ballot; voters simply took the ballot paper and dropped it into the ballot box. Those who wanted to vote against the candidate had to go to a special booth, without any secrecy.[1] Seats were apportioned based on a set quota, not actual vote totals.[2] By ensuring that its candidates dominated the list, the SED effectively predetermined the composition of the Volkskammer.
According to official figures, the National Front list received the approval of 99.6% of voters, with turnout reported to be 98.5%.[3]
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Party or alliance | Votes | % | Seats |
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| National Front | | Socialist Unity Party of Germany | 12,088,745 | 99.71 | 110 |
| Christian Democratic Union | 67 |
| Liberal Democratic Party of Germany | 66 |
| Free German Trade Union Federation | 49 |
| National Democratic Party of Germany | 35 |
| Democratic Farmers' Party of Germany | 33 |
| Free German Youth | 25 |
| Cultural Association of the GDR | 24 |
| Democratic Women's League of Germany | 20 |
| Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime | 19 |
| Peasants Mutual Aid Association | 12 |
| Social Democratic Party (Eastern Bureau) | 6 |
Against | 35,544 | 0.29 | – |
Total | 12,124,289 | 100.00 | 466 |
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Valid votes | 12,124,289 | 99.87 | |
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Invalid/blank votes | 15,643 | 0.13 | |
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Total votes | 12,139,932 | 100.00 | |
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Registered voters/turnout | 12,325,168 | 98.50 | |
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Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Sternberger et al. |