1956 Barbadian general election

General elections were held in Barbados on 7 December 1956.^[1] The result was a victory for the Barbados Labour Party, which won 15 of the 24 seats. MPs were elected across twelve two-member constituencies, using the block vote method.^[2] Voter turnout was 60.3%.^[1]

1956 Barbadian general election

← 1951 7 December 1956 1961 →
24 seats in the House of Assembly 13 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	60.29% (4.36pp)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Grantley Herbert Adams Errol Barrow Ernest Mottley Party BLP DLP PCP Leader's seat St. Joseph St. George (not elected) City of Bridgetown Last election 15 seats – 4 seats Seats won 15 4 3 Seat change New party 1 Popular vote 48,667 19,650 21,060 Percentage 49.35% 19.92% 21.35 Swing 5.12pp New party 8.41pp
Results by constituency
Premier before election Grantley Herbert Adams BLP Elected Premier Grantley Herbert Adams BLP

Despite winning more votes than the newly formed Democratic Labour Party, the Progressive Conservative Party won fewer seats, a consequence of the plurality voting system used.

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Barbados Labour Party	48,667	49.35	15	0
	Progressive Conservative Party	21,060	21.35	3	–1
	Democratic Labour Party	19,650	19.92	4	New
	People's Progressive Movement	1,695	1.72	0	New
	Independents	7,552	7.66	2	–1
Total		98,624	100.00	24	0
Valid votes		61,553	98.84
Invalid/blank votes		721	1.16
Total votes		62,274	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		103,290	60.29
Source: Caribbean Elections

References

1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p90 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
2. "Barbados General Election Results - 6 December 1956". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 29 October 2020.