Bermudian general election, 1963

General elections were held in Bermuda on 16 May 1963.^[1] They were the first elections to include political parties as the newly established Progressive Labour Party put forward nine candidates, of which six were elected.^[1]

Electoral system

The new Parliamentary Election Act introduced universal suffrage, as previously non-property owners had been disenfranchised. However, powerful white businessmen, who were the dominant force in Parliament at the time, had also passed the Watlington Amendment, which gave landowners with rateable property in the territory a second vote in their home constituency, as well as increasing the age of voting from 21 to 25.^[2] Of the 14,896 registered voters, 8,207 could cast only a single vote and 6,689 were eligible to cast a second vote. Each parish was divided into two constituencies, each of which returned two members to the House of Assembly.^[1]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats
Progressive Labour Party	5,827	18.62	6
Independents	25,471	81.38	30
Total	31,298	100	36
Registered voters	14,896	78.15	–
Source: Parliamentary Registry

References

1. May 1963 Parliamentary Registry
2. To vote or not to vote: it was not always an option Bermuda Sun, 14 December 2012